Learning PowerShell? RTFM!

By Jesse Hamrick • November 14th, 2008

Review - Windows PowerShell TFM 2nd Edition (SAPIEN Press)

"Since 1986, SAPIEN Technologies has produced information technology and software solutions that make a difference. Today, we're focused on making scripting easier, through a best-in-class suite of solutions that include software, training, publishing, and community."

Recently I've had the pleasure of diving into each facet of their suite and I agree with the "best-in-class" definition. The material I reviewed easily steps you through the beginning, intermediate, and advanced stages required to becoming a PowerShell guru. Here is the the material I reviewed for this article:

Software

PrimalScript 2007 Enterprise

Training

(DVD) ScriptingAnswers.com University - Windows Powershell Fundamental
(DVD) ScriptingAnswers.com University - Windows Powershell Intermediate
(DVD) ScriptingAnswers.com University - Windows Powershell Advanced

Publishing

Windows PowerShell TFM - 2nd Edition (Jones - Hicks)

Community

ScriptingAnswers.com

Reviews:
Windows PowerShell TFM 2nd Edition

When I cracked open TFM for the first time and looked at the table of contents I thought, how did they cram a beginner-to-intermediate-to-advanced book into 500+ pages? After reading through the chapters it made perfect sense, cut out the fat and the fluff and get right at the heart of the subject. It's 44 chapters in just over 500 pages (not counting the intro). That works out to an average of 12 pages per subject. What you're not going to get is a ton of pretty color picture or authors running off on a tangent about how they went on a fishing trip and caught the biggest fish out of the Ohio river. But not to worry the subject matter is neither dry nor too boring, after all the title is humorous. T.F.M. -The Foremost Manual? Maybe for the sensors but you and I know what the acronym really means.

The fundamental sections of the book step you the beginning stages of learning PowerShell. You will find much of the same subject matter that you find in the tutorial section of this site. However, TFM exposes us to intermediate and advanced techniques most beginning PowerShell books omit. Not only will TFM show you the basics but will teach you about:

.NET Framework: An overview for PowerShell users and for Windows Administrators
Regular expressions
Scope
XML
Creating Custom Objects
Object Serialization
Creating Custom Formats
Working with Databases
Windows Forms
Working with the Web
Creating PowerShell Cmdlets and Snap-Ins

DVD Series from SciptingAnswers.com

Don Jones truly comes across as a person genuinely enthusiastic about the subject he is teaching. You don't get that sales pitch type tone with Don. He knows how important it is for Windows Administrators to learn PowerShell and he wants you to be successful. The DVDs and the Labs contained on the media make it easy to comprehend and master each subject. The DVD series is for the self-paced student and is a good cost alternative to SPAIEN's online and live classroom training.

DVD content:

Beginning series - (Cmdlets, Pipeline, Security, WMI, Filtering and Operators, AD, Formatting, Scope, and more)

Intermediate series - (Advanced Filtering, Leveraging Objects, Error Trapping and Handling, Debugging, Regular Expressions, Advanced Modularization, and Saving and Exporting Objects)

Advanced series - (Working with Databases, Custom Format Views, Custom Type Extensions, Windows forms, and Advanced Techniques)

Each DVD in the series contains a Lab Guide, Samples and Answers, and other links and tools useful in the learning process. Each DVD runs about $89.00 and are available at ScriptingOutpost.com

My Conclusion and Recommendation

The material is top notch and affordable for individuals who are learning PowerShell. For those on a budget I would recommend purchasing the book first. If you can swing $89.00 for each DVD they are a great accompaniment to TFM. The book and DVDs really go hand-in-hand.

If your IT training budget can accommodate and/or money is no object, check out the online and live classroom training offered by SAPIEN. Online training runs about $1,000 and classroom training $2,000. Click here for more information.

A note of interest: With the release of PowerShell v2.0 looming, you can get a jump start learning the cmdlets and features of the new release. SAPIEN has made Windows PowerShell v2.0 TFM 3rd Edition available as an eBook download.There is a choice to download a sample which provides the information covered in the table of contents.