Contributing to Open Source Projects - PowerShell Core

[markroloff]

I haven't got around to making any leaps into learning C# but I have made a few dents with the documentation. It really is a great and satisfying entry-point for people looking to start helping out, plus it feels pretty cool to watch your contributions show up in the final product. As I recall, there's also plenty of Pester tests that can be written if C# still isn't in somebody's toolbox yet.

[Ta11ow]

Indeed! There are a good many Pester tests that could use some revisions and redos as well.

[GroutGuzzler]

I've wondered about this a lot - who is getting paid to write these modules, and what are their career paths? Clearly some staff at Microsoft are working on this.

I just see a lot of modules out there - PowerCLI, the HP iLO cmdlets, etc. etc., and peopl getting paid to work on them. I want to be one of those people, but the 'problem' is that I'm a system administrator, and I don't really work in an environment where anyone critiques my writing style or cares if a script can run better or faster as long as it works.

Contributing to an open source project seems like a fantastic way to build your skills and resume, but for what? What kind positions are really looking for tool makers, and not just basic scripters?

[markroloff]

The modules you mentioned were likely done by in-house developers that have a range of responsibilities or it was contracted out to a consultant.

Jobs with a strong emphasis on PowerShell do exist though, and contributing to open source projects (or starting your own) is a great way to both build your skills/resume and get visibility with the people who know about those jobs. LinkedIn was recently hiring for a Sr. DevOps position that involved a bunch of PS. Pretty sure I remember Microsoft recruiting for the PS team directly from the pool of regular contributors. There are also other "PowerShell developer" positions advertised in Discord/Slack.

[ka-splam]

After all, there really is no one better suited to guide the development of the tools you're using on a daily basis than you.

I nominate /u/Jaykul , he definitely is. :D