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name: PowerShell Core Builder description: Guide and commands for building PowerShell Core on Windows from source. Use when working in the PowerShell repository.

PowerShell Core Builder Skill

This skill contains the workflows for building PowerShell on Windows targeting .NET Core.

When to use

Use this skill when:

• You are working in the recursively cloned PowerShell/PowerShell repository.
• You need to clean, bootstrap, build, or test the PowerShell source code.
• You encounter build errors related to the PowerShell project.

Environment Setup

These instructions target Windows 10/Server 2012 R2+ and require:

• Visual Studio 2019+ (Community edition works)
• PowerShell Core 6 Beta.9+ (if using VS Code)
• Git (configured correctly)

Build Workflows

1. Bootstrapping (Dependencies)

We use the .NET CLI. The Start-PSBootstrap function installs the correct version defined in global.json.

CopyImport-Module ./build.psm1
Start-PSBootstrap -Scenario Dotnet
# Or call directly:
# Install-Dotnet

2. Building the Module

Use the Start-PSBuild helper function.

Standard Build:

CopyImport-Module ./build.psm1
Start-PSBuild -Clean -PSModuleRestore -UseNuGetOrg

Note: -UseNuGetOrg is crucial if you don't have access to the private Azure Artifacts feed.

Build Output: The executable will be located at: ./src/powershell-win-core/bin/Debug/net6.0/win7-x64/publish/pwsh.exe

3. Testing

Run cross-platform Pester tests.

CopyImport-Module ./build.psm1
Start-PSPester -UseNuGetOrg

Debugging

• You can execute the development copy via: & (Get-PSOutput)
• Validated on Windows 10 and Windows Server 2012 R2.