Good PowerShell guide, getting started through more advanced usage

Question

Does anyone have a really good tutorial or getting started guide for Microsoft's PowerShell? I'm a long time Linux/Unix user, and very familiar with scripting languages, command-line usage with bash, ksh and zsh. I'm an intermediate Ruby programmer, and have used all these tools for command-line file management and automation tasks.

I would love a "PowerShell for Bash Experts" guide if such a thing exists, or is on that level of detail.

Answer 1

• Getting Started: Windows PowerShell Getting Started Guide

• Programming with Powershell: Windows PowerShell Programmer's Guide

• Advanced PowerShell: A Guide To PowerShell's Advanced Functions

Answer 2

I've found this guide to be extremely helpful. Mastering Powershell - http://powershell.com/cs/blogs/ebook/

It's a free E-Book by a Powershell MVP that is well written.

Mike

Answer 3

I got started using the tutorial on powershellpro.

My only complaints are:

• The navigation is hard to use (list of links on the right hand side)
• There are a few errors and typos throughout. Although if you're an astute reader, you'll notice right away.

The teaching techniques I found useful were when they show how to do a task in both PowerShell and through regular Windows GUI (like MMC) and when they describe real-world uses for some of the scripts or commands.

Answer 4

I found this is a very good starter guide. The eBook is free for download.

Answer 5

I found this tutorial very helpful when I was learning powershell. I haven't gotten all the way through, so I don't know how advanced it gets, but I think it covers things fairly well.