Unix-like Command Line Experience in Windows - PowerShell

15 Dec 2012 Share on:

Recently, I was going through some course on Internet when I came across PowerShell. We used to work with a program called cmd.exe, but always wanted to have the usability and power that Unix command line offers. If you are using Windows 7 or later, then you just need to follow following steps:-

• Click Start.
• In “Search programs and files”, type: powershell and press Enter.

This will open a cmd.exe like window.

If you are still working on Windows XP, like me, then you can download the PowerShell from here.

You can try the following commands on powershell:

• pwd
  print working directory
• hostname
  computer’s network name
• mkdir
  make directory
• cd
  change directory
• ls
  list directory
• rmdir
  remove directory
• pushd
  push directory
• popd
  pop directory
• cp
  copy a file or directory
• robocopy
  robust copy
• mv
  move a file or directory
• more
  page through a file
• type
  print the whole file
• forfiles
  run a command on lots of files
• dir -r
  find files
• select-string
  find things inside files
• help
  read a manual page
• helpctr
  find what man page is appropriate
• echo
  print some arguments
• set
  export/set a new environment variable
• exit
  exit the shell
• runas
  DANGER! become super user root DANGER!
• attrib
  change permission modifiers
• iCACLS
  change ownership

I am still trying to learn these commands. Will come up with details when I know about each of them. There are few that you already know. So, let us get started.

Enjoy Powershell!!