I'm trying to get the hang of PowerShell, but I'm stuck in a bit of a tricky situation. At work, I need to use Windows 11, but at home, I'm working solely on Linux due to some hardware limitations I have. My employer wants me to perform various tasks with PowerShell, including creating GUI input screens and managing files. I was wondering if anyone has successfully set up a Windows virtual environment on their Linux system to develop PowerShell scripts that run on Windows. One challenge I face is that Excel isn't available on Linux, so I'd like to learn how to work with $Tring outputs and file manipulation without that. Any recommendations on what tools or setups I might use? Thanks for any tips!
5 Answers
If you're using Ubuntu, KVM/QEMU is a solid choice for virtualization. You can also check out the free Windows Server 2022 trial to play around with. You can do your scripting work there and even use Hyper-V for more virtualization options. Just remember, you can run unactivated Windows for basic tasks, but some features will be limited until it's activated.
You should definitely look into running PowerShell directly on Linux! It has cross-platform capabilities, so you can write scripts without needing Windows. For working with Excel files, check out the ImportExcel module. It's a great tool that lets you manage Excel files without needing Excel itself.
Yes, ImportExcel is fantastic! You can handle most file operations directly with PowerShell on Linux, but there will be some differences in file handling between the two operating systems.
Quick tip: remember to work on your scripts during work hours if they're for your job. Also, if your employer asks for things outside of your job scope, it might be a good idea to have a chat about what's realistic to expect. Just keep your skills sharp on your own time!
Fair point! Skill building is crucial, just make sure to set boundaries about working from home without pay.
You can try using VirtualBox or KVM to set up a Windows virtual machine on your Linux system. Just download a Windows ISO, and you're good to go! It'll let you test your PowerShell scripts and create the GUIs you need. Just a heads-up though, developing on VMs can sometimes feel clunky, so if your IT team has some spare Windows laptops, I'd recommend asking for one instead!
Yeah, developing on VMs can be a hassle. But if you stick with just a Linux environment and focus on the scripting side, you might find it easier. Plus, you won't need a Windows license!
Just a heads-up, PowerShell isn't really designed for creating GUI applications on Linux. If you're building a GUI, you might want to consider using C#. PowerShell is better suited for scripting tasks. But if you want to try, install PowerShell Core on your Linux machine, and you can start writing your scripts without needing Windows right away!
Exactly! Focus on PowerShell for backend logic, and use C# for the GUI. It'll save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Totally agree, KVM is great! Just be prepared for some Windows quirks. If you're just testing scripts, though, it should work fine.