Summary: Refer to this list of frequently asked questions to learn about the 2012 Windows PowerShell Scripting Games.
Microsoft Scripting Guy, Ed Wilson, is here. This has been an exciting couple of weeks with the announcement of the 2012 Scripting Games and Windows PowerShell Saturday event in Columbus, Ohio. In Columbus, I will be presenting a day-long beginning Windows PowerShell session, and there will also be an advanced track. The Scripting Wife will be there also. It will be a cool event. It seems that IT pros realize that knowing how to use Windows PowerShell is rapidly becoming not just a nice-to-have skill, but an essential skill. This is where the 2012 Scripting Games can help. I designed this year’s games to test ten essential skills (at basic and advanced levels). Refer to this year’s Scripting Games Study Guide for reference information about these skills.
Here are some of the questions about the Games that I saw last year via Facebook, Twitter, and scripter@microsoft.com.
The Windows PowerShell Scripting Games sound really cool. How do I sign up?
Sign up is easy. Just go to the 2012 Scripting Games page on the PoshCode site. Create your user name, and add your email address. Keep in mind that your user name will appear on the leaderboard (so do not choose something that you would be embarrassed for your mother to see). The email address is used for notification of prizes from our daily drawings. Your user name and email address are also used at the end of the games to send the valuable 2012 Scripting Games certificates.
I just realized that I have 7 days to submit my script for an event. I would like to add some things to my script, but I do not see a way to recall or delete my entry.
You are right; there is not a recall or delete function. After a script is submitted, it cannot be changed, deleted, or recalled. Make sure that the script you submit is the script that you want to have graded.
I am getting tired of browsing to review the scripts submitted on PoshCode. Is there a way to search for scripts?
Yes. In the upper right corner next to Login/Profile, there is a text box. Type search terms there, and press ENTER.
I am not on the leaderboard, but I submitted my script. What’s up with that?
The leaderboard report runs at midnight Pacific Standard Time, and if you submit your script later than that, it will be reported on the next day’s leaderboard. Also, keep in mind that we are not listing anonymous submissions on the leaderboard.
I tried to upload my script, but it is not working. What’s going on?
There are bound to be a few challenges along the way. Keep trying. We update the status of the tool on Twitter and on the Scripting Guys Facebook site. If we do not have a note that says it is down, you should let us know about your issue by Twitter. The tag for the 2012 Scripting Games on Twitter is #2012sg, and we are filtering for that tag. If you do not include that tag, we will miss your tweet. The cool thing is that you can also filter on #2012sg and catch up with everything that is going on. You might also want to filter on @ScriptingGuys and #PowerShell.
I am unhappy with my standing in the Games. What can I do?
We suggest that you pay attention to the grading guidelines (you can always find them via the 2012 Scripting Games All Links on One Page.
Pay close attention to the scenario requirements and to the expected output. Not every event requires a 500 line script; many events only need a one-liner. You may want to review some of the common errors from last year’s games. Nevertheless, if you add additional things such as error handling, comments, and the like, you will gain additional points. Keep in mind that this year, you are only allowed to compete in one category—either Beginner or Advanced. Therefore, it is important to submit excellent scripts for each of the ten events.
You guys are posting stuff several times a day on your blog. How do I keep up with everything?
I sympathize with you! Last year, we published more than a hundred pages in conjunction with the 2011 Scripting Games. I anticipate nearly that many pages again this year. Use the 2012 Scripting Games tag as a filter on the Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog site. It will bring up everything. In addition, the 2012 Scripting Games All Links on One Page provides the essentials, such as links to each event and to Posh Code. However, if you only use that page, you might miss some of the other cool things.
I invite you to follow me on Twitter and Facebook. If you have any questions, send email to me at scripter@microsoft.com, or post your questions on the Official Scripting Guys Forum. See you tomorrow. Until then, peace.
Ed Wilson, Microsoft Scripting Guy