Best Powershell Resources

Starting learning Powershell for regular DBA activities is a clever and on time decision. I know it will take sometime to make it workable for you (as for me too), but we can speed up this process with help of some good online resources.

One resource is this blog (;) - I am not kidding, I mean it :))

I have hand picked few resources for you, which I am using right now.

1. Free ebook on Powershell
http://powershell.com/cs/blogs/ebook/

This ebook is not only free its one of the best you can get. You can download it or read online.

2. SQL Tips on Powershell
http://www.mssqltips.com/category.asp?catid=81

MSSQLTIPS.com is one more resource to get hands on it. You have option to discuss topics with there author.

3. Online forum for Powershell
http://powershellcommunity.org/Forums/tabid/54/Default.aspx

You can check regular forum topics on powershell on this forum. There is a separate SQL Powershell category also. I tried this forum last week and I got my answer in less than an hour (impressive !!). Read others problem and try to learn from others mistake (;)).

4. Microsoft learning, tip of the week
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/resources/pstips/default.mspx

This lists some very clever tricks for Powershell. Just read few, this will help in leaning.

5. GUI Tool for scripting - PowerGUI
http://powergui.org/index.jspa

You need a good editor for scripting and executing Powershell. PowerGui is the answer, a intellitext (drop down like Visual Studio), one in all scripting editor for Powershell.
Coloring is also very important especially if you learning. You can catch errors better with coloring, a black and white screen or notepad plain text is hard to focus on errors, but here with good coloring, you can develop fast.