pwsh

pwsh refers to the command-line shell and scripting language of PowerShell Core, the cross-platform edition of PowerShell developed by Microsoft. It provides a task automation framework, a rich command-line interface, and a powerful scripting language for administration and configuration.

pwsh is the executable name used on Windows, macOS, and Linux for PowerShell Core (versions 6 and later). On Windows, the legacy Windows PowerShell uses powershell.exe, while pwsh is used for the newer cross-platform design.

PowerShell Core originated as an open-source rewrite of Windows PowerShell based on .NET Core (now .NET 5/6 and beyond), enabling true cross-platform operation. The project is hosted on GitHub and released under a permissive license; contributions come from Microsoft and the community.

Key features include an object-based pipeline, where cmdlets emit objects rather than text, robust scripting with error handling, and remote management via SSH and PowerShell Remoting. It supports cross-platform modules and can be installed with various package managers.

Typical use cases include automation of system tasks, configuration management, cloud workflows, and DevOps pipelines. PowerShell 7 and later continue to iterate on usability and compatibility with Windows PowerShell while expanding modern language features.

See also: PowerShell, PowerShell Core. Licensing and community information are available on the official repository and documentation pages.