1. Introduction: When Your Script Looks Right but Still Fails
Have you ever written a PowerShell script that seems logically sound, but it just won’t run as expected? Errors pop up, or worse, nothing happens. Don’t worry—debugging is your best friend. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use Visual Studio Code (VS Code) to write and debug PowerShell scripts efficiently.
2. Step One: Download and Install Visual Studio Code
To start, you need to install VS Code. Open Microsoft Edge and go to Bing, then search for “VS Code.” Click the official link to [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/), download the version for Windows, and follow the simple installation steps. Once installed, launch the program to prepare for the next steps.
3. Step Two: Install the PowerShell Extension
With VS Code open, click the Extensions icon on the left sidebar (it looks like a square puzzle piece). In the search bar, type “PowerShell.” Find the extension published by Microsoft and click “Install.” This will enable PowerShell syntax highlighting, script execution, and debugging features in VS Code.
4. Step Three: Create and Run a PowerShell Script
Next, go to “File” > “New File” and name your file `test.ps1` (make sure the extension is `.ps1`). Choose a folder to save the script and click “Create File.” Now write the following simple script:
$name = "World" Write-Output "Hello, $name" $PSVersionTable
To run it, go to “Run” > “Run Without Debugging.” The output panel at the bottom will show the results, including the string “Hello World” and detailed information about your current PowerShell version.
5. Step Four: Add Breakpoints and Start Debugging
To debug your script, click to the left of the code line where you want to set a breakpoint. Then click “Run” > “Start Debugging.” The script will pause at the breakpoint. You can then use the toolbar at the top to step through each line of code. Right-click any variable and choose “Add to Watch” to monitor its value live in the debugging sidebar.
6. Conclusion: Master Debugging for Efficient Scripting
By using VS Code’s powerful debugging features, you can find and fix bugs in your PowerShell scripts more quickly and effectively. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned scripter, learning how to debug is an essential part of your toolkit. Practice often, and make debugging part of your development workflow.
7. Demo Video
You can watch the following demo video by select the subtitle to your preferred subtitle language.