Free PowerCLI Editor

[TheVMinator]

What is the best editor to use with PowerCLI?  I'm looking to compare tools such as Microsoft's PowerShell ISE that can create and run scripts and perhaps do more to make scripting easier.  Suggestions?

[LucD]

There was a similar question recently, have a look at IDE? (Or, How To Start A Religious War With One Simple Question)

My actual view on PowerShell editors (and note that this is my personal opinion, anyone is allowed to have a different opinion :smileygrin:):

• PowerShellPlus: used to be my editor of choice, but has serious problems with PowerShell v3 and higher. Reported problems are not solved in a reasonable timeframe since it became free.
• PowerGUI: Also free, but seems to have issues with PowerShell v3. Personally I find the environment too bloated.
• PowerShell ISE: is getting better with each release, but the debugging environment is not as user-friendly as the others
• PowerShell Studio 2012: currently the best imho, but way too expensive !
• Admin Script Editor: The company stopped, it is now free. My first tests on W7 and W8 weren't very successful I'm afraid

[TheVMinator]

OK thanks for the input.  Can I integrate VMware PowerCLI specifically into use with any of these editors?

[LucD · Accepted solution]

It's not the editor that takes care of the integration, you just have to load the PowerCLI snapins in an editor to start using the PowerCLI cmdlets.

That can be done like this

Add-PSSnapin Vmware*

Which will load all the PowerCLI snapins.

You can also place that line in one of the profiles, that way the snapins are loaded each time you start a session, independent of the editor you are using.

Some editors even allow you to specify which snapins it should load when you start the editor.

[TheVMinator]

OK great thanks.  PowerShell Studio seems to run +$300.

[LucD]

I know