Developing Software on Windows Using PowerShell

PowerShell is a robust and versatile command-line tool built into Windows, but it’s often overlooked by developers in favor of Unix-like alternatives such as Git Bash. While Git Bash is excellent for some tasks, PowerShell provides deep integration with the Windows ecosystem and supports many Linux-like commands, making it a powerful tool for software development.

Why PowerShell?

PowerShell excels at bridging the gap between Windows and Linux tools. Its scripting capabilities, support for modern development tools, and ability to integrate with Linux-like commands make it an excellent choice for:

• Managing Git repositories.
• Running Node.js-based projects.
• Using Linux commands without leaving the Windows environment.
• Automating and scripting tasks with advanced features.

Getting Started

Open PowerShell

To begin, open PowerShell on your Windows machine:

1. Press Win + S and type "PowerShell."
2. Select “Windows PowerShell” or “PowerShell” from the search results.
3. Run it as an administrator if required by right-clicking and selecting “Run as Administrator.”

Installing Essential Development Tools

1. Install Chocolatey

• Chocolatey is a powerful package manager for Windows that simplifies the installation of development tools. To install Chocolatey, run the following command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; [System.Net.WebClient]::new().DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1') | Invoke-Expression

• After installation, verify Chocolatey by running:

choco --version

2. Install Required Tools

Git

Version control is essential for any software development. Install Git for Windows:

• Install using Winget (automatically adds Git to the PATH):

winget install --id Git.Git -e --source winget

• Alternatively, download from git-scm.com.
• During installation, ensure the option to Add Git to PATH is selected. This allows Git to be accessed from any command prompt, including PowerShell, without manually setting environment variables.
• Verify installation:

git --version

Node.js and npm

If your development involves JavaScript frameworks or tools, install Node.js and npm:

• Download from the official website.
• Alternatively, use Chocolatey:

choco install nodejs

• Verify installation:

node -v
npm -v

Adding Linux-Like Commands to PowerShell

For Linux-like commands, you have two main options:

Option 1: Install Linux Commands Individually Using Chocolatey

Chocolatey makes it easy to install specific Linux commands on Windows. This is ideal if you need only a few commands without the overhead of a full Linux environment. Examples include:

• curl: Transfer data from or to a server.

choco install curl

• wget: Download files from the web.

choco install wget

• grep: Search for patterns within files.

choco install grep

• sed: Perform text transformations on a file or stream.

choco install gnused

These commands can be used immediately after installation, and they integrate seamlessly with PowerShell.

Option 2: Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

WSL provides a full Linux environment within Windows, offering access to all Linux commands and tools. This is a better option if you need extensive Linux capabilities, such as:

• Running shell scripts.
• Using package managers like apt to install software.
• Developing in a Linux-native ecosystem while staying on Windows.

Installing WSL

• Open PowerShell as Administrator.
• Run the following command:

wsl --install

• WSL will install the default Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu) and enable essential features.

Learn more about WSL and its capabilities: Official WSL Installation Guide

Choosing the Right Option

• Use Chocolatey if you need just a few Linux commands for convenience.
• Opt for WSL if your work involves significant Linux-based development or tools.

Both options empower you to use Linux commands effectively on Windows, so choose based on your development needs.

Enhance Your PowerShell Experience

Customize the Prompt

You can transform the default PowerShell prompt into a visually appealing and informative tool using Oh My Posh, a prompt theme engine. This allows you to see essential information like the current directory, branch in Git repositories, and other useful context.

• Install Oh My Posh using Winget:

winget install JanDeDobbeleer.OhMyPosh

• Ensure Oh My Posh is installed correctly:

winget list | Select-String "Oh My Posh"

Add the following initialization command to your PowerShell profile:

oh-my-posh init pwsh | Invoke-Expression