Powershell: Easy installation on Windows/Mac/Linux

Powershell is a command line tool used to automate tasks, using a language based on Microsoft. The commands it uses are called cmdlets. You don't need to install it, as it comes with your Windows and can be opened with the Run command, while Mac and Linux users will need to install it and run it through Terminal. Once you have it up and running, there are some basic cmdlets you can use to get familiar with Powershell.

Powershell on Windows:

• Press the Win + R keys. This will open the Run command.
• You can also search for PowerShell from the Start menu.
• PowerShell has been built-in since Windows 7.
• Type PowerShell in the search bar.
• Press “OK.” This will open the program.

Powershell on Mac:

• Go here. This is the official github of the program.
• Download and install the .pkg file. To install it, you must have OSX11 or later.
• Open LaunchPad. It's the icon with a rocket.
• Tap and search for “Terminal.” You can also find Terminal by going to

“Applications > Utilities”

• Open Terminal.
• Type PowerShell and press enter. This will open Powershell in “PS.” This means that the program is running and taking your commands from the Terminal.

Powershell on Ubuntu:

• Go here. This is the official github of the program.
• Download the .deb file, depending on the version of Linux you have. The program is available for Ubuntu 14.04 or 04.
• Open Terminal. You can do this by using Win + Alt + T or by searching for it in the search bar.
• Type “sudo dpkg -i [filename]” and press Enter. You will be prompted to enter your password.
• Type “sudo apt-get install -f” and press Enter again.
• Type Powershell and press OK. This will open Powershell which will take commands from Terminal.

Basic Powershell commands :

• Use the “Get-Command” command to find cmdlets. It will automatically display all the cmdlets.

For example: the command “Get-Command Name *Disable*” will show you all the commands that contain “Disable” in name .

• Use the “Get-Help” command to find information about a specific cmdlet.
• E.g.: “Get-Help Get-Process” will display all the useful information about the 'Get-Process' cmdlet.
• “Get-Process” will show you a list of the operations that are taking place on your computer.
• Use “Get-Member” to view the properties and methods of an object. This cmdlet requires another cmdlet to be useful. This is done by adding a “|” between the cmdlets.
• For example: “Get-Process | Get-Member “. So, “Get-Member” will display all the properties and methods that you can use using Get-Process.
• Use “Where-Object” to select objects based on some criteria. The criteria in Where-Object are specified using the following format: “{$ _ [object] [operator] [parameter]}”. Where-Object also needs an object associated with it.
• For example: “Get-Process | Where-Object {$ _ .name -eq “notepad”}” will execute Get-Process where the object name is equal to “notepad”.