6434 Day 2

Module 5: Intro to scripting. I missed this because of meetings.

Module 6: Comparison operators, leading into flow control.

The start-demo function isn't working and didn't work yesterday. Looks like the instructor hasn't loaded it. He's copying and pasting the demo code into a PS console. Sort of surprising he wasn't provided instructions on how to get that to work.

If/else vs. Switch. VBScripters are piping up - "this is just like Select Case."

Foreach; instructor is creating a false distinction between foreach and foreach-object. The curriculum gives two different ways to accomplish the same thing, but it's not made clear that these are two routes to the same place.

Ha! One of the demo scripts has a big "TO DO!!!" in it, doesn't look like they ever finished writing this piece of the curriculum.

Filters vs. Functions. "Functions process all input at once, filters process each input object individually." "A function with a begin, process, or end block is actually a filter."

Using parameters -

function test1 ($first, $second) { "first=$first"; "second=$second" }

He's managing to confuse me here and I already get this. Overcomplicating the explanation is not helping. This might not be the case, but I'm getting the impression that this course isn't completely baked and the instructor might be able to use a little more practice.

Lab exercise: We were asked to write a script that takes one parameter (computer name) and retrieves win32_operatingsystem. Use a switch to output the friendly name of the build number. Pretty good exercise, I can see the rest of the class banging away on it.

Vital note: I keep thinking about "How Is Babby Formed." It made me laugh out loud on the bus this morning.

Providers and psdrives. Wildcards, pattern matching, and regexes. For a beginner I bet this is whizzing by too fast. This could potentially be a 5-day course with a little bit more comfortable pace. Unfortunately, since the time I signed up for this course I've become a lot more proficient with PS, so a lot of this is review. It is good to get some specific lab assignments to work on, though. I find I still need to look things up occasionally, so I'm certainly learning stuff. But it doesn't really feel like it.

Still no mention - even a hint - of V2.

Done for the day. Time to head home and chop on a commission piece, a backing tracks-only cover of a nice little 3/4 ballad. I love not being responsible for the vocal.