Learning a new language always looks messy, be it the case that you never knew programming or be it the case that you in a manager role. Remember when you first started learning English or remember when you started learning any other language after English. Some languages can be hard to start with and some easier, but the pace depends over return on investment of the time spent. We learned English faster as we knew that we would need it regularly, similar mindset is required for PowerShell. Lucky for you, it's not even hard.
What you need to start, here goes my take:
- Embrace the learning process: Learning something new might feel overwhelming and daunting at first but you need to remember that everyone starts from somewhere. Many creating huge PowerShell scripts today didn't came from even IT background in start. Embrace the learning process with open mind and willingness to explore. Take baby steps and explore at least couple of commands on daily basis even if for just 30 mins in a day.
- Start with Fundamentals: Begin your journey with familiarizing with basic concepts of PowerShell. Understand the Verb-Noun syntax of PowerShell lightweight commands called cmdlets, grasp the pattern of help system and gain deeper understanding of concepts.
- Take advantage of freely available resources: Lucky for you, even your windows machine would come with so many modules and cmdlets which can provide you lot of information about processes, configurations and different other things, which can become a good practice ground and building block for your learning process. But there are so many online resources, so many YouTube videos about starting with PowerShell, which can provide a system to your learning process. Couple of such learning resources listed below:
- Ref: https://livebook.manning.com/book/learn-powershell-in-a-mont...Ref: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlVtbbG169nFq_hR7FcMY...Once you understand the basics of PowerShell help system and fundamentals then you would come to know that all what you need to know is already there in Help topics and command auto-complete helps you anyway even if you don't remember the complete commands.
- Practice, Practice and Practice: The best way to solidify your understanding of PowerShell is by practicing regularly. Start by experimenting with simple commands, such as listing files in a directory or retrieving system information. As you become more comfortable, gradually tackle more complex tasks and scenarios. Don't jump over complex and big tasks immediately but start in slow and consistent manner. The given links earlier can provide you small problems to solve and even their solutions. Explore more. Remember, just like we understood reading English first, same way, it's easier to understand the currently deployed or someone else scripts and then slowly you start creating your own.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes: When I look back to my old scripts then many a times, I find my approach funny or quite inefficient or faulty even in some cases, but that's perfectly ok. Coding inevitably involves making mistakes, and that's perfectly okay! Don't let the fear of errors hold you back. Instead, view mistakes as valuable learning opportunities. When you encounter an error or unexpected behavior, take the time to understand what went wrong and how to correct it.
- Seek support and community: You're not alone on your journey to learn PowerShell. There would be many people in your own team on the same path and even people who are ahead of you. Engaging with a supportive community can provide encouragement, guidance, and valuable insights as you progress in your learning.