Software Spotlight: Introducing Three Popular PowerShell Editors

But why the move towards ISE Mode? For a long time, PowerShell ISE was the default application for Windows users. Unfortunately, standalone ISE is no longer in development. Microsoft thus thought it necessary to provide that familiar functionality within its flagship editor. Conveniently, Visual Studio Code’s settings menu lets users configure it like PowerShell ISE—down to its appearance and functionality.

VSC is a worthy PowerShell editor. It’s easy to replicate color schemes, console execution behavior, tab completion, and file assumptions. The app now includes a command explorer. Learning how to harness hotkeys is turbulence-free within VSC, and PowerShell commands are plentiful. Debugging is also available. VSC leverages its own IntelliSense hinting-and-completion tool for cmdlets and related code.
Users will feel at home with its interface, with minimal effort. While some applications force users to adapt, VSC is good at ‘getting out of its own way’ for the developer’s sake. That simple, distraction-free approach is great for productivity.

Fig. 2: Sapien PowerShell Studio 2020

PowerShell Studio by Sapien is an actively-supported IDE for PowerShell only. While quite expensive at $399, Studio sells itself as a universal solution for all PowerShell needs. This holds true whether one runs 32-bit or 64-bit PowerShell. PowerShell Studio also supports STA and MTA modes—important considerations for legacy objects, and GUI tools or scripts. The software itself features a GUI Designer for low-code creation.

Note that PowerShell Studio only supports Windows. Linux and macOS (and OS X versions) aren’t compatible. Sapien also offers PrimalScript. This program is a full-fledged, multi-language IDE—and while it supports PowerShell, its functionality is more limited.

The suite features a capable editor, which also features code completion and auto-formatting. It also includes essentials like syntax coloring, bookmarking, and reference highlighting. Those working with remote modules will love Studio’s editor—as scripting with associated cmdlets is possible. A major contributor to all of this is the Function Builder. Complex parameter-and-cmdlet attributes are easy to write; the Function Builder automatically inserts proper syntax as needed.

Studio also includes the usual suspects, like script debugging, module creation, and integrated PowerShell consoles. The application sets itself apart by including supplemental debugging methods:

• Remote debugging
• Module debugging
• Multi-file debugging

Users can also perform other powerful functions within PowerShell Studio: executable and installer creation. Developers can customize their privileges and elevations. MSI installers are also fair game. This level of functionality isn’t universal across the PowerShell tooling landscape. Speaking of which, Studio provides real-time script performance monitoring. Those curious about CPU and memory usage are armed with knowledge.

Finally, the suite provides some useful goodies like Universal Version Control and file recovery. These features make it easier to revert to prior versions, while safeguarding all progress made.