--- title: "Windows PowerShell Commands for Web Developers" description: "Learn how Windows PowerShell makes your web development workflow more efficient." authors: - name: "Dan Arias" url: "https://auth0.com/blog/authors/dan-arias/" date: "Apr 30, 2019" category: "Developers,Tutorial,PowerShell" tags: ["powershell", "windows", "web-dev", "web-development", "command-line", "unix", "console"] url: "https://auth0.com/blog/powershell-commands-for-web-developers/" --- # Windows PowerShell Commands for Web Developers Web development on Windows can be perceived by some developers as clunky due to the lack of proper native tooling. While Command Prompt, also known as `cmd.exe`, is less than ideal for an efficient development workflow, modern Windows systems come packed with the mighty Windows PowerShell, a command-line shell that includes an interactive prompt and a scripting environment. PowerShell gives you access to the file system on the computer, lets you make server requests, and much more! However, guidance on running development tasks is often provided for MacOS and Linux only. To support Windows users, this guide demonstrates how to perform common web development tasks using PowerShell. > Use the navigation sidebar to jump to any section of your interest. Bookmark that section for future reference if you'd like! ## Getting Help At any point, if you need information about any PowerShell command or concept, you can use the `Get-Help` command to display this information in the console: ```shell Get-Help [[-Name] ] [] ``` You can pass to `Get-Help` the command that you need information about. To make using `Get-Help` easier, you can use the `help` function which runs `Get-Help` internally but displays the result one page at a time. #### Example Display basic information about `Get-Item` one page at a time: ```shell Get-Help Get-Item | Out-Host -Paging ``` To exit the manual, press `q`. For a less complex command, you may use `help`: ```shell help Get-Item ``` To get an example of the command usage, pass the `-example` flag: ```shell help Get-Item -example ``` Pass the `-online` flag to open the PowerShell online document for the command: ```shell help Get-Item -online ``` In the example above, the following URL opens in the default browser to show the `Get-Item` document page: [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/get-item?view=powershell-6](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/get-item?view=powershell-6) ## Getting Your Current Location To print information about your current working directory in the console, use `Get-Location` or `gl`. ### Aliases `pwd`, which is commonly used in UNIX-based operating systems. #### Examples This command prints your location in the current PowerShell drive. ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> Get-Location Path ---- C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gl Path ---- C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> pwd Path ---- C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell ``` ## Seeing Previous Activity To get a list of the commands entered during the current session, use `Get-History`. ```shell Get-History [[-Count] ] ``` This command takes a `-Count` or `-c` parameter to specify the number of most recent commands used that should be displayed. #### Aliases You can use the familiar UNIX command `history` as well as `ghy` and `h`. #### Examples Get the full history of the current session: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> Get-History Id CommandLine -- ----------- 1 help Get-History -online 2 cd .\Projects\ 3 ls 4 cd .\powershell\ 5 ls 6 rd .\test\ 7 rd .\test1\ 8 ls 9 help Get-Location -Examples 10 pwd 11 help Get-History -Examples 12 Get-History 13 history 2 ``` Get the two most recent entries of the current session: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> history -c 2 Id CommandLine -- ----------- 13 history 2 14 Get-History ``` ### Printing the last command used To print the last command used, execute `$$`: ``` PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> $$ history ``` ## Printing to the Console You can use `Write-Output` to print to the console. ```shell Write-Output [-InputObject] ``` #### Aliases You can use the more familiar `echo` command instead as well as `write`. #### Examples To get information about your home directory: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> echo $HOME C:\Users\User PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> write $HOME C:\Users\User ``` Print a string: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> echo "PowerShell is life" PowerShell is life ``` Set a variable and print it: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> $value = "Shell Life" PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> echo $value Shell Life ``` ## Creating Multi-Line Commands To make long commands easier to write, read, copy, and paste, you can spread them over multiple lines using the backtick (`` ` ``) as newline delimiter: ```shell npm i @fortawesome/fontawesome-svg-core ` @fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons ` @fortawesome/react-fontawesome ``` Copying and pasting this command in PowerShell will execute the three lines as a one-line command. ## Viewing Content of Directories To view the content of the current working directory, use the `Get-ChildItem` or `gci` command. You can also pass it a directory path to see the content present at the end of the path. ```shell Get-ChildItem [[-Path] ] ``` The `-Path` parameter is implied. #### Aliases You can also use the familiar UNIX `ls` command as well as the familiar `cmd.exe` command `dir`. #### Examples To view the content of the current directory: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> # the directory is empty ``` To view the content of a nested directory, simply provide the path as an argument: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci frameworks ``` If the `frameworks` subdirectory exists, the above command lets you see its content in the console. ### Viewing hidden files To view hidden files you add the `-Force` flag to `Get-ChildItem` or `gci`, or any of its aliases. ## Viewing File Content To output the content of a file right to the console, use the `Get-Content` or `gc` command. ```shell Get-Content [-Path] ``` The `-Path` parameter can be omitted. #### Aliases You can also use the familiar UNIX `cat` command as well as `type`. #### Examples Print the content of a `package.json` file present in the current directory: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gc .\package.json { "name": "powershell", "version": "1.0.0", "description": "", "main": "index.js", "scripts": { "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1" }, "keywords": [], "author": "", "license": "ISC" } ``` ## Directory Operations ### Creating a directory - The `New-Item` command can be used to create directories when given the right arguments. ```shell New-Item [-Path] -Name [-ItemType ] ``` The `-Path` parameter receives as value the location path of the new item. If omitted, the current directory would be used as the default path. The `-Name` parameter takes the name you want to give to the directory. You can omit it and simply pass a string at the end of the command. The value of the `-ItemType` parameter is "directory". This parameter may also be simplified to `-it`. #### Aliases `ni` is the alias for `New-Item`. #### Examples Create a directory named _frameworks_ under the current directory: ```shell New-Item -ItemType "directory" frameworks ``` Shorthand version: ```shell ni -it "directory" frameworks ``` Create two more directories, _languages_, and _os_, under the current directory. To create multiple directories, pass their path as a comma-separated list: ```shell ni -it "directory" languages, os ``` Create a subdirectory whose parent exists: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni -it "directory" languages/javascript Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\languages Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/13/2019 4:12 PM javascript PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\languages\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\languages Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/13/2019 4:12 PM javascript ``` Assuming that the subdirectory _employers_ doesn't exist, create a subdirectory named _auth0_ that would be its child: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni -it "directory" employers/auth0 Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\employers Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/13/2019 4:14 PM auth0 PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\employers\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\employers Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/13/2019 4:14 PM auth0 ``` #### Additional Aliases `md` and `mkdir` are also aliases for `New-Item` that already assume the `ItemType` to be `"directory"`. ```shell md [:] mkdir [:] ``` The `mkdir` command is popularly used in tutorials online that target UNIX systems. ### Deleting a directory To delete any directory, use the `Remove-Item` command. ```shell Remove-Item [-Path] [] ``` As before, `-Path` is an optional parameter with the current directory being its default value. #### Alias You can use any of the following aliases with this command: `ri`, `rm`, `rmdir`, `del`, `erase`, and `rd`. #### Examples Remove the _os_ subdirectory created earlier: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> Remove-Item os ``` If you try to delete a directory that is not empty, instead of failing, PowerShell will warn you about it and give you the option to delete the directory recursively: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ri .\languages\ Confirm The item at C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\languages\ has children and the Recurse parameter was not specified. If you continue, all children will be removed with the item. Are you sure you want to continue? [Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No [L] No to All [S] Suspend [?] Help (default is "Y"): ``` It lets you choose from different options: ```shell [Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No [L] No to All [S] Suspend [?] Help (default is "Y"): ``` You can press enter to go with the `Y` default. To delete a subdirectory, just provide the path. ### Moving a directory To move a directory you can use the `Move-Item` command. It moves the directory, including its properties, contents, and child items, from one location to another location. ```shell Move-Item [-Path] [[-Destination] ] ``` The `-Path` parameter specifies the path to the current location of the directory. If omitted, its default value is the current directory. The `-Destination` parameter specifies the path to the location where the directory should be moved. When omitted, its default is the current directory. #### Aliases You can use the following aliases for this command: `mi`, `move`, and the common UNIX command, `mv`. #### Examples Create a subdirectory named _angular_ under the current directory and move it to the _frameworks_ sibling subdirectory: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni -it "directory" angular Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/13/2019 4:36 PM angular PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> mi .\angular\ .\frameworks\ PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/13/2019 4:14 PM employers d----- 3/13/2019 4:36 PM frameworks PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/13/2019 4:36 PM angular ``` ### Renaming directories To rename a directory, you can use the same command to move a directory, `Move-Item`. You need to supply the same path to the directory but with a different name. #### Examples Rename the subdirectory _angular_ inside the subdirectory _frameworks_ to _react_: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> mi .\frameworks\angular\ .\frameworks\react PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/13/2019 4:36 PM react ``` ### Copying directories To copy a directory from one location to another, use `Copy-Item`. ```shell Copy-Item [-Path] [[-Destination] ] ``` The `-Path` parameter specifies the path to the current location of the directory. If omitted, its default value is the current directory. The `-Destination` parameter specifies the path to the location where the directory should be copied. When omitted, its default is the current directory. #### Aliases You can use `cpi`, `copy`, and the familiar UNIX `cp` as aliases for `Copy-Item`. #### Examples Create the `spring` subdirectory inside the `frameworks` subdirectory and then copy it to the `employers` directory: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni -it "directory" .\frameworks\spring Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/14/2019 1:51 PM spring PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/13/2019 4:36 PM react d----- 3/14/2019 1:51 PM spring PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> cpi .\frameworks\spring\ .\employers\ PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\employers\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\employers Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/13/2019 4:14 PM auth0 d----- 3/14/2019 1:52 PM spring ``` ## File Operations The commands used to perform directory operations can be used to perform file operations as well. ### Creating files `New-Item` can be used to create a file. Be sure to provide the extension. `-ItemType` can be omitted as its default value is to create a file. ```shell New-Item [-Path] -Name [-ItemType ] ``` #### Aliases `ni` is the alias for `New-Item`. #### Examples Create a file named _index.js_ under the current directory ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni index.js Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 1:56 PM 0 index.js PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/14/2019 1:52 PM employers d----- 3/14/2019 1:51 PM frameworks -a---- 3/14/2019 1:56 PM 0 index.js ``` Create a file named _main.java_ inside the _frameworks/spring_ subdirectory: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni .\frameworks\spring\main.java Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\spring Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 1:58 PM 0 main.java PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\spring\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\spring Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 1:58 PM 0 main.java ``` If the directory where you want to create the file doesn't exist, executing the following command throws an error: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni .\frameworks\django\main.py ni : Could not find a part of the path 'C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\django\main.py'. At line:1 char:1 + ni .\frameworks\django\main.py + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + CategoryInfo : WriteError: (C:\Users\User\P...\django\main.py:String) [New-Item], DirectoryNotFoundException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NewItemIOError,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.NewItemCommand ``` However, adding the `-Force` or `-f` parameter at the end lets you create both the directory and file within the same command: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni .\frameworks\django\main.py -f Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\django Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 2:00 PM 0 main.py PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/14/2019 2:00 PM django d----- 3/13/2019 4:36 PM react d----- 3/14/2019 1:58 PM spring ``` ### Creating multiple files To create multiple files, the `New-Item` or `ni` command is used and paired with the `-Path` parameter. You can provide a comma-separated list of file paths as the value of `-Path` to create multiple files at once. #### Examples Create the files _App.js_, _App.css_, and _index.css_ under the _frameworks/react_ subdirectory: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni .\frameworks\react\App.js,` .\frameworks\react\App.css,` .\frameworks\react\index.css Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\react Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 2:02 PM 0 App.js -a---- 3/14/2019 2:02 PM 0 App.css -a---- 3/14/2019 2:02 PM 0 index.css ``` If any of the intermediate folders don't exist, you can use the `-Force` or `-f` parameter to create them: > If a command starts to get long, use the backtick (`` ` ``) to spread it into multiple lines ### Deleting files To delete files you can use the same command used to delete directories: `Remove-Item`. ```shell Remove-Item [-Path] [] ``` #### Aliases You can use any of the following aliases with this command: `ri`, `rm`, `del`, `erase`, and `rd`. #### Examples Delete the _main.java_ file present inside the _frameworks/spring_ subdirectory: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ri .\frameworks\spring\main.java PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\spring\ # empty subdirectory ``` ### Deleting multiple files To delete multiple files, pass a list of comma-separated file paths to `Remove-Item` or `ri`. #### Examples ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ri .\frameworks\react\App.css, .\frameworks\react\App.js PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\react\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\pwsh\frameworks\react Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/27/2019 7:43 PM 0 index.cs -a---- 3/27/2019 7:49 PM 0 index.css ``` It deletes the files but not the intermediate _react_ folder. ### Moving files To move a file, you can use the same commands used to move directories: `Move-Item`. You just need to specify the filename in the path. ```shell Move-Item [-Path] [[-Destination] ] ``` #### Aliases You can use the following aliases for this command: `mi`, `move`, and the common UNIX command, `mv`. #### Examples Move the _index.js_ from the current directory to the _frameworks/angular_ subdirectory: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/14/2019 1:52 PM employers d----- 3/14/2019 2:09 PM frameworks -a---- 3/14/2019 1:56 PM 0 index.js PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> mi .\index.js .\frameworks\angular\ PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/14/2019 1:52 PM employers d----- 3/14/2019 2:09 PM frameworks PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\angular\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\angular Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 1:56 PM 0 index.js ``` ### Renaming files To rename a file, use the same command to move a directory, `Move-Item`. You need to supply the same path to the directory but with a different filename. #### Examples Rename the _index.js_ file under the _frameworks/angular_ subdirectory to _index.ts_: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> mv .\frameworks\angular\index.js .\frameworks\angular\index.ts PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\angular\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\angular Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 1:56 PM 0 index.ts ``` ### Copying files The same command used to copy directories is used to copy files: `Copy-Item`. The only difference is that now you must specify the filename at the end of the path: ```shell Copy-Item [-Path] [[-Destination] ] ``` The `-Path` parameter specifies the path to the current location of the file. If omitted, its default value is the current directory. The `-Destination` parameter specifies the path to the location where the file should be copied. When omitted, its default is the current directory. #### Aliases You can use `cpi`, `copy`, and the familiar UNIX `cp` as aliases for `Copy-Item`. #### Examples Copy the file _frameworks/react/index.css_ file to the subdirectory _frameworks/angular/_: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\angular\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\angular Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 1:56 PM 0 index.ts PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> cpi .\frameworks\react\index.css .\frameworks\angular\ PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci .\frameworks\angular\ Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\angular Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 2:02 PM 0 index.css -a---- 3/14/2019 1:56 PM 0 index.ts ``` ### Creating hidden files To create a hidden file, create the file first and then add "Hidden" as one of its attributes. #### Example ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\pwsh> ni .env Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\pwsh Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/27/2019 8:02 PM 0 .env PS C:\Users\User\Projects\pwsh> (gi .\.env).Attributes += 'Hidden' PS C:\Users\User\Projects\pwsh> gci Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\pwsh Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/14/2019 5:28 PM employers d----- 3/14/2019 7:53 PM frameworks d----- 3/14/2019 5:18 PM languages ``` `(gi .\.env)` returns the `.env` file as an object. Then, you can change its `Attributes` property. Remember that `gi` is the shorthand for `Get-Item`. ## Navigating the Filesystem To move to a subdirectory, you can use the `Set-Location` or `sl` command. However, using the `cd` alias is more natural and universal among technical documentation. `cd` works just like in UNIX. Pass as an argument to this command the path where you want to go: ```shell PS C:\Users\User> cd .\Projects\ PS C:\Users\User\Projects> # takes you to the Projects subdirectory ``` ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects> cd .\powershell\frameworks\ PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks> # takes you two folders down to the frameworks subdirectory ``` ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks> cd .. PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> # takes you back one level up to the powershell subdirectory ``` ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> cd ../.. PS C:\Users\User> # takes you two levels up to the User directory ``` ```shell PS C:\Users\User> cd .\Projects\powershell\frameworks\angular\ PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\angular> cd ~ PS C:\Users\User> # cd ~ takes you to the defined home directory ``` ## Combining Commands To combine commands use a semicolon (`;`). Create a new _hardware_ subdirectory and make it the current directory: ```shell PS C:\Users\User> cd .\Projects\powershell\ PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni -it "directory" hardware; cd hardware Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- d----- 3/14/2019 2:32 PM hardware PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\hardware> ``` It's important to note that the second command will run even if the first one fails. Assume that the _hardware_ folder exists but the _colleges_ folder doesn't. The following commands attempts to create a new file within each of these folders: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ni colleges\mit.html; ni hardware\macbook.html ni : Could not find a part of the path 'C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\colleges\mit.html'. At line:1 char:1 + ni colleges\mit.html; ni hardware\macbook.html + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + CategoryInfo : WriteError: (C:\Users\User\P...lleges\mit.html:String) [New-Item], DirectoryNotFoundException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NewItemIOError,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.NewItemCommand Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\hardware Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 2:35 PM 0 macbook.html ``` Since the _colleges_ folder doesn't exist, the first command, `ni colleges\mit.html`, fails and throws an error in the console. However, the second command, `ni hardware\macbook.html`, executes successfully and creates the file _macbook.html_ within the _hardware_ folder. This is the same exact behavior that `&` has in `cmd.exe`. ## Finding a File in a Directory You can also use `Get-ChildItem` or `gci` to search if a file is present in the given directory. #### Examples ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci App.css ``` If _App.css_ is present in the current working directory, you'll see information about the file printed on the screen. Otherwise, you'll see an error like this one: ```shell gci : Cannot find path 'C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\App.css' because it does not exist. At line:1 char:1 + gci App.css + ~~~~~~~~~~~ + CategoryInfo : ObjectNotFound: (C:\Users\User\P...ershell\App.css:String) [Get-ChildItem], ItemNotFoundExcep tion + FullyQualifiedErrorId : PathNotFound,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetChildItemCommand ``` To search within the current directory and subdirectories for the file, you need to pass along the `-Recurse` and `-Force` parameters: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci App.css -Force -Recurse ``` If the file is present in the tree below the current directory, its information is printed on the console, which includes its locations: ```shell Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\angular Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 2:02 PM 0 App.css Directory: C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell\frameworks\react Mode LastWriteTime Length Name ---- ------------- ------ ---- -a---- 3/14/2019 2:02 PM 0 App.css ``` ## Adding Content to a File To add content to a file, use `Add-Content`. PowerShell commands are very declarative. ```shell Add-Content [-Path] [-Value] ``` The `-Path` parameter specifies the path to the items that receive the content. You can omit it and pass the path as a value to `Add-Content` directly. The `-Value` parameter specifies the content to be added. If passing a string, you can omit it and simply provide the content to add as a quoted string after the path value. This will be clear in the examples. #### Aliases You can also use `ac` instead. #### Examples Add a the ".auth0 {}" string to the _App.css_ file present in _frameworks/react_: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gc .\frameworks\react\App.css PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> ac .\frameworks\react\App.css ".auth0 {}" PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gc .\frameworks\react\App.css .auth0 {} ``` ## Finding Text Within Files Use `Select-String` or `sls` to find files that include certain text. ```shell Select-String [-Pattern] ``` You need to pipe files to `Select-String`. The `-Pattern` parameter specifies the text to find on each file line. You can use a string or a regular expression as its value. However, if you pass it a string, use the `SimpleMatch` parameter. #### Examples To search for the occurrence of the "auth0" string within the current directory and its subdirectories, use the following: ```shell PS C:\Users\User\Projects\powershell> gci -Recurse | Select-String -Pattern "auth0" auth0 frameworks\react\App.css:1:.auth0 {} ``` As you learned before, `gci -Recurse` is used to traverse the current directory and subdirectories. That output is then passed to `Select-String` for it to detect within all those files an occurrence of the string "auth0". When the operation is complete, you'll see printed in the console a list of the files with their location and the line that contains the pattern. ## Comparing Two Files To compare the contents of two files and determine if they are identical in content, you can use the `Compare-Object` command. ```shell Compare-Object [-ReferenceObject] [-DifferenceObject] ``` `Compare-Object` takes as arguments the reference object and the difference object. #### Aliases You can also use `diff` and `compare` as aliases. #### Examples Use `Compare-Object` to find if two files are identical: ```shell Compare-Object ` -ReferenceObject $(Get-Content package.json) ` -DifferenceObject $(Get-Content clone.json) ``` If the files differ, you'll see the following output: ```shell InputObject SideIndicator ----------- ------------- "name": "react", => "name": "node", <= ``` If they are identical, there's no output. You have to execute the `Get-Content` command for each file, as `Compare-Object` compares two sets of objects. For files, `Get-Content` reads one line at a time and then returns a collection of objects, each of which represents a line of content. These object collections are then used by `Compare-Object` to determine any differences in content. To execute commands within commands, you can use the following syntax: `$()` For example, if you want to print to the screen what `Get-Content` returns, run the following: ```shell echo $(Get-Content package.json) ``` ## Marking Server Requests Probably the most commonly used commands in tech tutorials online are `curl` and `wget`. These commands are used to get content from a web page online or make requests to servers. Fortunately, PowerShell offers an equivalent command to achieve this task: `Invoke-WebRequest`. ```shell Invoke-WebRequest [-UseBasicParsing] [-Uri] ``` This command is very powerful and can do _a lot_. You'll learn how to use it to make basic requests to a server. #### Aliases To make your life easier, `Invoke-WebRequest` has `wget` and `curl` as aliases. You can also use `iwr`. #### Examples Let's say that you have a Node Express web server running on `localhost:8080`. The server has an `/api/users` endpoint that handles `GET` and `POST` requests. To make a `GET` request, use the following command: ```shell PS C:\Users\User> curl "http://localhost:8080/api/users" StatusCode : 200 StatusDescription : OK Content : ["Tony","Lisa","Michael","Ginger","Alice"] RawContent : HTTP/1.1 200 OK Connection: keep-alive Content-Length: 42 Content-Type: application/json; charset=utf-8 Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2019 22:14:50 GMT ETag: W/"2a-X4GgAs2DaZWDhw7cuMCCGMiGj58" X-Powered-By:... Forms : {} Headers : {[Connection, keep-alive], [Content-Length, 42], [Content-Type, application/json; charset=utf-8], [Date, Thu, 14 Mar 2019 22:14:50 GMT]...} Images : {} InputFields : {} Links : {} ParsedHtml : System.__ComObject RawContentLength : 42 ``` If you do a `curl`, you may get the following error: ```shell curl : The response content cannot be parsed because the Internet Explorer engine is not available, or Internet Explorer's first-launch configuration is not complete. Specify the UseBasicParsing parameter and try again. ``` This means that Internet Explorer has not been launched for the first time in your Windows system. To solve it, launch Internet Explorer and choose to use the recommended settings. ![Internet Explorer 11 recommended security and compatibility settings](https://images.ctfassets.net/23aumh6u8s0i/58ME0i8ob9cInWSVOQMQjo/43cc787673bd6c7abe1257f3a8753c73/internet-explorer-settings) To make a `POST` request, you can first define the body of the request using a variable named `$Body`: ```shell PS C:\Users\User> $Body = @{ >> name = 'alice' >> lastName = 'jones' >> } ``` > To create the object, type `$Body = @{` and then press `` to define its properties as shown above. Then you can use this `$Body` variable with the `-Body` parameter to make the `POST` request as follows: ```shell PS C:\Users\User> curl "http://localhost:8080/api/users" -Method "POST" -Body $Body StatusCode : 200 StatusDescription : OK Content : OK RawContent : HTTP/1.1 200 OK Connection: keep-alive Content-Length: 2 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2019 22:31:34 GMT ETag: W/"2-nOO9QiTIwXgNtWtBJezz8kv3SLc" X-Powered-By: Express... Forms : {} Headers : {[Connection, keep-alive], [Content-Length, 2], [Content-Type, text/plain; charset=utf-8], [Date, Thu, 14 Mar 2019 22:31:34 GMT]...} Images : {} InputFields : {} Links : {} ParsedHtml : System.__ComObject RawContentLength : 2 ``` The `-Method` parameter specifies the HTTP method used for the web request. It can accept any of the HTTP verbs. The `-Body` parameter specifies the body of the request. ## Checking the Integrity of Downloaded Packages Go to [`https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/download/download-thanks.html`](https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/download/download-thanks.html) and download the WebStorm installer. You'll use it as an example of how to verify the integrity of a file. In the download page, JetBrains suggests to: > Download and verify the file SHA-256 checksum. Clicking on the `SHA-256 checksum` link opens a basic page that shows the following output: ```bash 62196e17f1965c97d2c32bf30fadaf7935168933de6ecf23483acfc8bd4a90c6 *WebStorm-2018.3.5.exe ``` This checksum can help you determine that the file you downloaded hasn't been tampered by anyone during transmission and it's the file JetBrains intended for you to download. Once the file is downloaded, you can make the `Downloads` folder your current directory and issue the following command to compute the hash of the downloaded file: ```shell certutil -hashfile .\WebStorm-2018.3.5.exe SHA256 ``` [`Certutil.exe`](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/certutil) is a CLI tool used to verify certificates, key pairs, and certificate chains. Upon completion, the command prints the following to the screen: ```bash SHA256 hash of .\WebStorm-2018.3.5.exe: 62196e17f1965c97d2c32bf30fadaf7935168933de6ecf23483acfc8bd4a90c6 CertUtil: -hashfile command completed successfully. ``` You can then compare this output with the checksum provided by JetBrains on their site. If the file name and the hash match perfectly, you can be assured that you downloaded the right file. ## Running Commands as Administrator You can manually start PowerShell as administrator by right-clicking on its desktop entry and choosing "Run as Administrator" or selecting that from its right menu options. That action opens a console that has elevated access and permissions. ![PowerShell launch options - run as Administrator](https://images.ctfassets.net/23aumh6u8s0i/18fCWHeYJXS7BLkB6X2xjo/ffb4bc3ae1d18739856ec71c68b3d882/powershell-start-options) However, you can also start an elevated console through a command in PowerShell: ```shell Start-Process powershell -Verb runAs ``` This command starts a process with the `runAs` verb, which in turn starts the process with permissions of a system admin. For example, to start PowerShell as an administrator you can run the following command: ```shell Start-Process -FilePath "powershell" -Verb RunAs ``` ## Using Shell File Editors If you are feeling adventurous, you can always [download Vim for Windows](https://www.vim.org/download.php#pc) and use it inside PowerShell. ## Further Reading [Getting Started with Windows PowerShell](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/getting-started/getting-started-with-windows-powershell?view=powershell-6) [Understanding important PowerShell concepts](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/learn/understanding-important-powershell-concepts?view=powershell-6) [PowerShell Microsoft.PowerShell.Core module providers that manage the basic features of PowerShell](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/?view=powershell-6) ## Recap As a Windows developer, PowerShell provides you with the same capabilities that any terminal application for MacOS and Linux have. Are there any other tasks that this guide should include or tasks that could be run better with different syntax or commands? Please let me know in the comments below if you have any insights to share! I am loving using PowerShell while making cool web apps.