Intro

Coming from unix world, I really enjoy so-called one-liners - easy to remember commands that do some useful bootstrapping.

Few examples from my dotfiles: https://github.com/voronenko/dotfiles

Saying, if I want to configure my favorite shell on some new VPS

curl -sSL https://bit.ly/getmyshell > getmyshell.sh && chmod +x getmyshell.sh && ./getmyshell.sh
# might be shortened to, if I do not need to inspect shell file contents
curl -sSL https://bit.ly/getmyshell | bash -s

or configure my dotfiles configuration on a more permanent box

curl -sSL https://bit.ly/slavkodotfiles > bootstrap.sh && chmod +x bootstrap.sh
./bootstrap.sh  <optional: simple | full | docker>

That approach works pretty well on linux, thus when I have windows related work, I am trying to reuse similar approach.
Few examples from my winfiles: script below configures my PowerShell profile on a new windows server, and optionally installs my "swiss knife" set of tools for the windows system.

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force; 
iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://bit.ly/winfiles'))

Sometimes on Windows it is needed to additionally pre-configure bootstrap script. This article is actually note for myself how to do it quick next time

Challenge definition

Assume we have some bootstrap logic implemented in PowerShell, uploaded to some public location and we need one-liner for easier install.
For purposes of the demo - that might be script, that installs some custom MSI artifact:

#Automated bootstrap file for some activity
param (
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
    [string]$requiredParam = "THIS_PARAM_IS_REQUIRED",
    [string]$optionalParamWithDefault = "https://github.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners",
    [string]$optionalParamFromEnvironment = $env:computername
)

Write-Host "About to execute some bootstrap logic with params $requiredParam $optionalParamWithDefault on $optionalParamFromEnvironment"

Function Download_MSI_Installer {
    Write-Host  "For example, we download smth from internet"    
    # Write-Host "About to download $uri to $out"
    # Invoke-WebRequest -uri $uri -OutFile $out
    # $msifile = Get-ChildItem -Path $out -File -Filter '*.ms*'
    # Write-Host  MSI $msifile "
}

Function Install_Script {
    # $msifile = Get-ChildItem -Path $out -File -Filter '*.ms*'
    # $FileExists = Test-Path $msifile -IsValid
    $msifile = "c:\some.msi"

    $DataStamp = get-date -Format yyyyMMddTHHmmss
    $logFile = 'somelog-{0}.log' -f $DataStamp
    $MSIArguments = @(
        "/i"
        ('"{0}"' -f $msifile)
        "/qn"
        "/norestart"
        "/L*v"
        $logFile
        " REQUIRED_PARAM=$requiredParam OPTIONAL_PARAM_WITH_DEFAULT=$optionalParamWithDefault OPTIONAL_PARAM_FROM_ENVIRONMENT=$optionalParamFromEnvironment"
    )
    write-host "About to install msifile with arguments "$MSIArguments
    # If ($FileExists -eq $True) {
    #     Start-Process "msiexec.exe" -ArgumentList $MSIArguments -passthru | wait-process
    #     Write-Host "Finished msi "$msifile
    # }

    # Else {Write-Host "File $out doesn't exists - failed to download or corrupted. Please check."}
}

Download_MSI_Installer
Install_Script

user can tune following script parameters:

    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
    [string]$requiredParam = "THIS_PARAM_IS_REQUIRED",
    [string]$optionalParamWithDefault = "https://github.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners",
    [string]$optionalParamFromEnvironment = $env:computername

Option A - almost manual "bootstrap.ps1 -param value"

Pros: actually nothing is needed, just works

Cons: harder to tune parameters programmatically

# optional download
(new-object net.webclient).DownloadFile('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners/master/bootstrap.ps1','c:\bootstrap.ps1')
# install with optional overrides
c:\bootstrap.ps1 -requiredParam AAA -optionalParamWithDefault BBB -optionalParamFromEnvironment CCC

Validation - no overrides

PS C:\> c:\bootstrap.ps1

cmdlet bootstrap.ps1 at command pipeline position 1
Supply values for the following parameters:
requiredParam: RRR
About to execute some bootstrap logic with params RRR https://github.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners on EC2AMAZ-9A8TRAV
For example, we download smth from internet
About to install msifile with arguments  /i "c:\some.msi" /qn /norestart /L*v c:\some.msi-20190205T221234.log  REQUIRED_PARAM=RRR OPTIONAL_PARAM_WITH_DEFAULT=https://github.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners OPTIONAL_PARAM_FROM_ENVIRONMENT=EC2AMAZ-9A8TRAV

Validation - with overrides

PS C:\> c:\bootstrap.ps1 -requiredParam AAA -optionalParamWithDefault BBB -optionalParamFromEnvironment CCC
About to execute some bootstrap logic with params AAA BBB on CCC
For example, we download smth from internet
About to install msifile with arguments  /i "c:\some.msi" /qn /norestart /L*v c:\some.msi-20190205T221400.log  REQUIRED_PARAM=AAA OPTIONAL_PARAM_WITH_DEFAULT=BBB OPTIONAL_PARAM_FROM_ENVIRONMENT=CCC

Acceptance: PASSED

Option B - X-Liner from pre-downloaded script

Put overrides only into $overrideParams , other will be picked up from default values in install script.
Pros - you can detect and programmatically amend override parameters.

$overrideParams = @{
    requiredParam = 'AAAA'
    optionalParamWithDefault='BBB'
    optionalParamFromEnvironment='CCC'
}

$ScriptPath = 'c:\bootstrap.ps1'
$sb = [scriptblock]::create(".{$(get-content $ScriptPath -Raw)} $(&{$args} @overrideParams)")
Invoke-Command -ScriptBlock $sb

# ...

# Validation:
About to execute some bootstrap logic with params RRR https://github.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners on EC2AMAZ-9A8TRAV

# Validation - no overrides

$overrideParamsNone = @{
    requiredParam = 'RRR'
}
$sb = [scriptblock]::create(".{$(get-content $ScriptPath -Raw)} $(&{$args} @overrideParamsNone)")
Invoke-Command -ScriptBlock $sb
# ...
About to execute some bootstrap logic with params AAAA BBB on CCC

Acceptance: PASSED

Option C - X-Liner executing script from remote location

Put overrides only into $overrideParams , other will be picked up from default values in install script, downloaded from the remote location

Pros - you can detect and programmatically amend override parameters, bootstrap script can be located on your download location.

$overrideParams = @{
    requiredParam = 'AAAA'
    optionalParamWithDefault='BBB'
    optionalParamFromEnvironment='CCC'
}


$ScriptPath = ((new-object net.webclient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners/master/bootstrap.ps1'))
$sb = [scriptblock]::create(".{$($ScriptPath)} $(&{$args} @overrideParams)")
Invoke-Command -ScriptBlock $sb

# output of the ^ command
About to execute some bootstrap logic with params AAAA BBB on CCC

$overrideParamsNone = @{
    requiredParam = 'RRR'
}

$ScriptPath = ((new-object net.webclient).DownloadString('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners/master/bootstrap.ps1'))
$sb = [scriptblock]::create(".{$($ScriptPath)} $(&{$args} @overrideParamsNone)")
Invoke-Command -ScriptBlock $sb

# output of the ^ command
About to execute some bootstrap logic with params RRR https://github.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners on EC2AMAZ-9A8TRAV
For example, we download smth from internet

Acceptance: PASSED

Option D - Real one-liner using PowerShell module and iwr + iex

As stated, requiries installation logic packed as a PowerShell module (see bootstrap-module.ps1)

. { iwr -useb https://path/to/bootsrap.ps1 } | iex; function -param value

. { iwr -useb https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners/master/bootstrap-module.ps1 } | iex; install -requiredParam AAA -optionalParamWithDefault BBB -optionalParamFromEnvironment CCC

# output of the ^ command

ModuleType Version    Name                                ExportedCommands
---------- -------    ----                                ----------------
Script     0.0        CustomInstaller                     {Install-Project, install}
About to execute some bootstrap logic with params AAA BBB on CCC

# Validation - no overrides

. { iwr -useb https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners/master/bootstrap-module.ps1 } | iex; install

# output of the ^ command

ModuleType Version    Name                                ExportedCommands
---------- -------    ----                                ----------------
Script     0.0        CustomInstaller                     {Install-Project, install}

cmdlet Install-Project at command pipeline position 1
Supply values for the following parameters:
requiredParam: RRR

Acceptance: PASSED

where bootstrap-module.ps1 is our original bootstrap file, but packed/wrapped into a module.

#Download and Run MSI package for Automated install
new-module -name CustomInstaller -scriptblock {
    [Console]::OutputEncoding = New-Object -typename System.Text.ASCIIEncoding
    [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.SecurityProtocolType]'Tls,Tls11,Tls12'

    function Install-Project {
        param (
            [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
            [string]$requiredParam = "THIS_PARAM_IS_REQUIRED",
            [string]$optionalParamWithDefault = "https://github.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners",
            [string]$optionalParamFromEnvironment = $env:computername
        )


        Write-Host "About to execute some bootstrap logic with params $requiredParam $optionalParamWithDefault on $optionalParamFromEnvironment"

        Function Download_MSI_Installer {
            Write-Host  "For example, we download smth from internet"    
            # Write-Host "About to download $uri to $out"
            # Invoke-WebRequest -uri $uri -OutFile $out
            # $msifile = Get-ChildItem -Path $out -File -Filter '*.ms*'
            # Write-Host  MSI $msifile "
        }

        Function Install_Script {
            # $msifile = Get-ChildItem -Path $out -File -Filter '*.ms*'
            # $FileExists = Test-Path $msifile -IsValid

            $DataStamp = get-date -Format yyyyMMddTHHmmss
            $logFile = '{0}-{1}.log' -f $msifile.fullname, $DataStamp
            $MSIArguments = @(
                "/i"
                ('"{0}"' -f $msifile)
                "/qn"
                "/norestart"
                "/L*v"
                $logFile
                " REQUIRED_PARAM=$requiredParam OPTIONAL_PARAM_WITH_DEFAULT=$optionalParamWithDefault OPTIONAL_PARAM_FROM_ENVIRONMENT=$optionalParamFromEnvironment"
            )
            write-host "About to install msifile with arguments "$MSIArguments
            # If ($FileExists -eq $True) {
            #     Start-Process "msiexec.exe" -ArgumentList $MSIArguments -passthru | wait-process
            #     Write-Host "Finished msi "$msifile
            # }

            # Else {Write-Host "File $out doesn't exists - failed to download or corrupted. Please check."}
        }

        Download_MSI_Installer
        Install_Script        

    }

    set-alias install -value Install-Project

    export-modulemember -function 'Install-Project' -alias 'install'

}

So far option D is the most one-linish

Check out https://github.com/Voronenko/ps_oneliners for examples from article.

Summary

We now have few approaches to choose from, to implement short "one-liners" to bootstrap some logic with PowerShell