Mastering Windows PowerShell Scripting: One-stop guide to automating administrative tasks, 2nd Edition

Much like Microsoft Press books, the authors here don't understand, there's a big difference between knowing a thing and explaining it to others. I'm an IT professional with about 25 years experience. Had some experience writing Windows Shell scripts, a little application development, and some Linux BASH commands/scripting. Give that background, I was still lost and gave up after first 100 pages. Reads more like a PS advanced command syntax lexicon (I can get that info in the ISE), and not so much an educational tool for new PS initiates. In future publication efforts, I strongly recommend more focus on scripting examples, including COMPLETE admin scripts for performing common automated admin tasks, rather than all these too-brief scripting snippets.

This book would more aptly be titled, "An Introduction to Powershell." I'm having to Google any sort of advanced use of functions which this book covers.For example, it covers multi dimensional arrays in a single page. A brief example of a multidimensional array with "hard coded" values is shown. The book does not show how to add or reference the values dynamically as almost everyone will need to do.Rinse and repeat for the various subjects. This book is good to get a beginner view on Powershell but it's definitely not for advanced use or "Mastering."

This is good book for advanced programmers. If anyone wants to explore more codes, he should read this books at least couple times.

An excellent book to start with to understand and take your powershell scripting to the next level.

Great for entry level powershell users

Very difficult reading. Absolutely not for the beginner. I never gave up on this type of book until now.

I really enjoyed this book. full disclosure: - i was given a copy by the publisher to review, but i would happily have paid for it. i am a Microsoft trainer, and deliver the Microsoft 10961 "Automating Administration with Windows Powershell" course three or four times a year; this book makes an excellent supplement to that course, especially now Microsoft only give students the electronic skillpipe version of the training material. The book not only covers but expands on all the course material, providing in-depth explanations, tips and tricks and pointing out some of the pitfalls. There are also a number of chapters on subjects that are not covered in the course that have become more important in the last few years, such as working with REST, HTML and JSON calls, and testing using Pester. Add in an excellent introductory chapter to working with .NET and all the powershell regex i ever want to see, and the book is a winner. i am recommending it to my colleagues and students.if there was one thing that could be improved upon, it would be the examples. i would like to see more 'real-world' examples, using things an admin might do, rather than some of the simple ones that are given to demonstrate the syntax.other than that, i loved it. i'll be forking out for a paper copy i can put next to my first edition "powershell scripting and toolmaking" book.

Giving 3 stars because I don’t consider this a “mastering” book. It’s more of a reference guide/learn it fast guide. I’ve read multiple books, and this book is lacking detail and content.