'Monad' Named Windows PowerShell
Microsoft's new command line shell and scripting language, known by the code-name Monad, has been given an official name: Windows PowerShell. The utility is designed to enable administrators to automate and control tasks on Windows desktops and servers.
Monad was initially slated to replace the command line in Windows with an object-oriented shell that rivals shells found on Unix systems. However, Microsoft Senior Vice President Bob Muglia said last year that it would take the company a few years to fully flesh out the technology.
Still, Microsoft has been pushing ahead with Monad and released Windows PowerShell Release Candidate 1 on Tuesday. In addition, Exchange Server 2007 and Microsoft Operations Manager version 3 -- known as System Center Operations Manager 2007 -- are being built atop the PowerShell technology.
PowerShell is a fairly complex endeavor for Microsoft, which has previously focused its attention on the graphical interface while rival server software remains primarily command line based. The idea was to build a Unix-like shell for administrators that offers advanced scripting capabilities while remaining easy to program.
Upon release, Exchange Server 2007 and MOM users will be able to do everything from the command line that can be done from the graphical interface.
Windows PowerShell features 130 built-in utilities called "cmdlets" for completing common system administration tasks; simplified navigation of the operating system including drives, startup files, and registry; support for existing scripts and command line tools; and object manipulation capabilities.
PowerShell RC1 requires the .NET Framework 2.0 and runs on Windows XP, Server 2003 and Windows Vista, with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions available.