New to PowerShell ?
MOST IMPORTANT
Google is the most underestimated resource EVER.
Look for your question on it before you start asking people.
If you have a problem, chances are other people will have had the same/similar question waaaaaaay before you and chances are this question has already been answered.
Books
Must Reads
Personally the biggest recommendation I can give concerning learning PowerShell is to read the following books:
- Learn Windows PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Third Edition
- Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches
- The PowerShell Scripting and Toolmaking Book
A great reference book, which can also be used to learn the language is Lee Holmes’ book:
While there are various other books also freely available, if you’re really serious about getting into PowerShell, these books will help you a LOT!
The first will teach you all about PowerShell as a language, the most important Cmdlets, how to read Help etc etc.
Think of it as learning the language’s grammar, it doesn’t just tell you what to type, it teaches you how to use the language properly!
Once you’ve completed the first book, you can move on to hone your skills and create re-usable tools!
Other freely available books that might interest you:
PowerShell for newbies: Getting started with PowerShell 4.0
Windows PowerShell Networking Guide
Secrets of PowerShell Remoting
Administrator’s Guide to Windows PowerShell Remoting
Effective Windows PowerShell: The Free eBook
Layman’s Guide to PowerShell 2.0 remoting
WMI query language (WQL) via PowerShell
The Administrator Crash Course: Windows PowerShell v2
The Big Book of PowerShell Gotchas
The Big Book of PowerShell Error Handling
Videos
A must watch is the freely available course by PowerShell’s creator/founder, Jeffery Snover
Microsoft Virtual Academy - Getting Started with PowerShell 3.0 Jump Start
And be sure to check other options available on MVA, the list keeps growing
Jeffery Hicks’ YouTube channel
Don Jones’ YouTube channel
PluralSight courses [they might not be free, but damn are they good!! At least try the free trial account to give it your own judgement]
Networking
Another very underestimated source of knowledge is the people around you.
See if there’s a PowerShell User Group in your area.
If you’re in The Netherlands, you can check the Dutch PowerShell User Group here or otherwise perhaps check the listing here to find a group near you.
Important links
Power comes in numbers, just as PowerShell is built to serve 1 machine or 100.000 with the same effort.
Forums and Social Media bring you a whole source of information within your grasp.
Some of the added links are also household favorites for people interested in PowerShell.
PowerShell.org
The unofficial PowerShell home, also home to the Scripting Games and PowerShell forum
The Official PowerShell Home
A newly release home for PowerShell by Microsoft
Windows PowerShell Blog
Microsoft PowerShell Team Blog
Hey Scripting Guy blog
The home of THE Scripting Guy, the Scripting Wife and their friends
Facebook PowerShell group
The name says it all…
Twitter search for #PowerShell
Again, the name says it all…
PowerShell on Reddit
You get the drift
Blogs
While these blogs are personal favorites, I’ve added some of mine just in case you would like a headstart.
Jeffrey Snover - twitter
Greg Shields - twitter