Foreword

Back in the PowerShell version 1.0 days, I was providing technical support for three different companies who were all early adopters of Exchange Server 2007. At that point in time, a number of configuration options that needed to be changed and administrative tasks that needed to be performed couldn’t be accomplished using the GUI. Incrementally learning the new features of each subsequent version of PowerShell has been manageable.

While attending conferences is not required to learn PowerShell, I can definitely speak from experience that attending the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit every year since its inception has certainly helped my career, not only from the knowledge that I’ve gained but also from the connections that I’ve made while networking with others at the event.

In addition to the numerous new features added with each new version of PowerShell, the ability to run PowerShell on Linux and macOS only compounds the learning curve for someone just getting started. That’s where you, this book, and the OnRamp scholarship program can assist. In 2018, The DevOps Collective awarded one scholarship for someone to attend the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit in Bellevue Washington. The recipient was Andrew Pla. I remember meeting Andrew at the summit that year and his enthusiasm for learning PowerShell was contagious.

Last year, I decided to leverage the connections that I’d made over the years and create Volume 1 of The PowerShell Conference Book. All of the authors paid it forward by donating a small portion of their time by writing a chapter in an area of expertise where they’re a subject matter expert. We donated 100% of the royalties from the book to the DevOps Collective OnRamp scholarship program.

This year, while at PowerShell on the River in Chattanooga Tennessee, I personally had a chance to see how the DevOps Collective OnRamp scholarship program maximizes its return on investment. Andrew Pla who was the first scholarship recipient presented a session on how to Empower your team with ChatOps: Getting started with PoshBot. I was amazed at his level of expertise and professionalism during the presentation. When it was over, I thought “wow, what a return on investment that was.” In just a little over a year, Andrew has gone from receiving a scholarship to attend the PowerShell and DevOps Global Summit to sharing his expertise with others in the industry by presenting at conferences himself.

The authors and editors of this book along with the people who purchase it are facilitating this type of ongoing return on investment by supporting future scholarship recipients.

Mike F. Robbins, Creator of The PowerShell Conference Book