Powershell Script Editor

[Guv]

I have started to use powershell for vmware, and have downloaded the VI tool kit. I am using the Vsphere powerCLI and now want to try wirting powershell scripts. Its a bit tedious writing lines of code on the vsphere powercli, so I wanted to find out if there was a text editor i could use to write powershell scripts for vmware. Is there a popular one that I can use, is there one that vmware provides, can I use the windows powershell GUI.

Any advice

[halr9000]

You'll want to check these out:

- PowerShell V2 comes with ISE. V2 comes out this Thursday with Win7 and shortly thereafter for all the rest of the operating systems.

- PowerGUI http://powergui.org

- VESI http://thevesi.org <- this is the one most customized for working with PowerCLI, grab it
- PowerShell Plus http://powershellplus.com
- PrimalScript http://sapien.com

There's also syntax highlighters for Notepad++ and some other editors, but you won't get the full experience





[vExpert|http://www.vmware.com/communities/vexpert/], PowerShell MVP, VI Toolkit forum moderator

Author of the book: Managing VMware Infrastructure with PowerShell

Co-Host, PowerScripting Podcast (http://powerscripting.net)

Need general, non-VMware-related PowerShell Help? Try the forums at PowerShellCommunity.org

[harkamal]

You can use Virtualisation Ecoshell, which also includes PowerGUI (a free and good powershell editor) go here http://thevesi.org/index.jspa, it has got a management pack for vmware scripting also.

But since you are new, i suggest that you dont use a wizard driver editor and learn things from ground level by getting your hands dirty.

Others are Sapien's Primal Script, which costs abt 200 USD+, PowerShellPro and others

[RobMokkink]

I only use notepad++ for powershell and vbscript.

[halr9000]

Not that there's anything wrong with N++, I use it all the time myself for other tasks, there are plenty of things it can't give you, such as:

- Code completion, so you type get-vi[TAB] and Get-VirtualSwitch pops up, for example.

- ability to execute scripts and see the results

- debugging

- variable inspection

- help viewer (for powershell cmdlets)

...and so on.

Just want everyone to be able to make an informed decision. There are a lot of cool editors out there.

[vExpert|http://www.vmware.com/communities/vexpert/], PowerShell MVP, VI Toolkit forum moderator

Author of the book: Managing VMware Infrastructure with PowerShell

Co-Host, PowerScripting Podcast (http://powerscripting.net)

Need general, non-VMware-related PowerShell Help? Try the forums at PowerShellCommunity.org

[LucD]

I think you got most of the important ones listed in the previous posts.

If you're starting, a debugger could come in handy

And then, imho, PowerShell Plus beats all the others (currently priced at $145).