Koans/Foundations/AboutFunctionsAndScriptBlocks.Koans.ps1
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#Requires -Module PSKoans [Koan(Position = 103)] param() <# Functions & Script Blocks (I) Now that we've seen the basics of variable assignment and typing, we'll look at some basic examples of functions and how they operate. A script block in PowerShell is essentially an unnamed or anonymous function, and can be assigned to a variable or even later assigned a name as needed. #> Describe "Functions" { It "allows you to assign a name to a sequence of commands" { <# An apt name eases the transition to abstraction. PowerShell function names are named in convention following the cmdlets; Verb-Noun. To see the list of approved PowerShell verbs, run 'Get-Verb' in the console. There are many methods of sending output from a function. #> function Get-Number { <# Explicit use of Write-Output allows multiple items to be output within the function without causing the function to exit. #> Write-Output 20 } function Get-ReturnedNumber { <# Use of the return statement causes all output previously declared to be sent, along with any output passed to the return statement itself, then ends the function. #> return __ } function Get-DroppedNumber { <# Leaving a value, or a statement that returns a value on a line by itself causes that output to be "dropped" to the output stream, similar to functional languages. It can be considered an implicit (and faster) 'Write-Output' #> 12 } Get-Number | Should -Be __ Get-ReturnedNumber | Should -Be 13 Get-DroppedNumber | Should -Be __ } It "can accept parameters" { # Simplicity is a two-sided coin. function Add-Things { return ($args[0] + $args[1]) } # Values are supplied separated by spaces, without parentheses. Add-Things "7" __ | Should -Be "72" # Strings add differently than numbers! Add-Things 1 2 | Should -Be __ # The road to mastery is travelled with many small steps. function Add-Numbers ($Number1, $Number2) { return ($Number1 + $Number2) } Add-Numbers 1 7 | Should -Be __ Add-Numbers __ 15 | Should -Be 31 # Values can be passed to specified parameters Add-Numbers -Number2 8 -Number1 12 | Should -Be 20 } It "can declare parameters explicitly" { function Measure-String { <# Declaring parameters in this way allows for more advanced techniques, which will be covered in AboutAdvancedFunctions #> param( $InputString ) return $InputString.Length } # How long is a piece of string? Measure-String "Hello!" | Should -Be 6 Measure-String "Muffins" | Should -Be __ } } Describe "Script Block" { <# Script blocks can be used to group commands without defining a function. These can be used for various things, most commonly for parameters or defining a sequence of actions to be executed multiple times. Many PowerShell cmdlets can take script blocks as parameters, particularly pipeline cmdlets. .FORWARDHELPTARGETNAME about_Script_Blocks #> It "is an anonymous function" { $Script = { throw "This is a script block that just throws an error." } # Sometimes, you just want to watch things burn, and the console to stream red errors. $Script2 = { # Currently, this will just output the script block as an object $Script # Try appending .Invoke() to this line to cause the original block to be executed } $Script | Should -Throw $Script2 | Should -Throw } } |