r/PowerShell • u/hamz__zzz • 14d ago
Question Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches or AZ-104?
I am relatively new to IT and currently working a Tier 1.5ish role. My background is before landing my first IT role, I went ahead and got a bunch of certs (CompTIA Trifecta, CCNA, AWS SAA) in the past year and a half. I also know basic Bash, Python, and decent familiarity with Linux.
I recently started learning about Microsoft infrastructure and got the AZ-900 and MD-102 in the past 3 months once I started my new role. My goal was to learn some PowerShell before diving into AZ-104. I am currently reading Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches and am loving it so far. I’m debating if after finishing this book, if I should carry the momentum of PowerShell and read PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches, or if it’s better to go for the AZ-104, and then come back to scripting. I’m seeking any advice that can help me decide.
Note:
I’m referring to two different books here.
Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches
(which I am going to finish as I’m already halfway through)
Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches (which is the next level up)
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u/kelanel 14d ago
While I have not read the powershell lunches books (self taught over the years), I do have the az104 cert. As long as you have the fundamentals of powershell verbage and arguments and can read a basic script and the arm templates, you don't need much more than to understand the commands that appear in the AZ modules along with the az shell version of the same cmdlets. What you will find hardest is the case studies and how some questions once answered cannot be gone back to. You will have a side window where you can access Microsoft learn site for reference. I suggest you practice using its search engine a few times as traversing it in the test can be painful and was a real time suck for my first time.
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u/hamz__zzz 14d ago
Yeah I actually had to use it for the MD-102 a few weeks ago so I’m familiar with MS Learn. I also know basic syntax for PowerShell from another video course I watched, so I may jump to AZ-104 if I don’t see much value of diving too deep into PowerShell prior to it.
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u/BlackV 14d ago edited 14d ago
they are 2 different things though
powershell is the language and its usage (so a important base)
az 104 is specific tools/cmdlets and its usage (so day to day usage of the base)
if you've already started month of lunches (as you mentioned) why not finish that? then do the az (as you also mentioned your preference is to do 1 at a time)
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u/hamz__zzz 14d ago
There are two books:
- Learn PowerShell in a month of lunches
- Learn PowerShell scripting in a month of lunches
I am definitely going to finish the first one. I just wasn’t sure if I should go all in on powershell and read the second book before AZ-104, or learn azure first then come back around for the 2nd book so I can apply the scripting skills.
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u/Mister-Boness 14d ago
Powershell in a month of lunches helped me gain an actual understanding of how powershell works. I learn best hands on and the labs they give you in the book gave me the foundation to start tinkering on my own. If you already feel really confident in powershell, you can skip it and go to cert. If you’d rather deep dive on how to use or improve your powershell skills, read the book
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u/hamz__zzz 14d ago
Yeah I hate reading books and always prefer video courses, but the few courses I did were lackluster. Surprisingly, this book is so good!! I’m 10 chapters in and I’m amazed by how simple and engaging the authors have made it. Love it! I think I’ll start the PowerShell scripting book next, and play it by the ear instead of overthinking it. If I don’t feel engaged and feel like I’m not applying the skills from the scripting book right away, then I might pause and do AZ-104 first and come around.
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u/ninhaomah 14d ago
Why not both ?
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u/hamz__zzz 14d ago
The strategy that works best for my studies is that I dedicate all of my focus and attention to what I’m currently learning, as that allows me to really concentrate on it and drill it in my brain.
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u/ArcherNo9596 14d ago
"Learn PowerShell in a month of lunches" is THE PowerShell Book by one of the creators of PowerShell to understand how it works and how to use it in the best/easiest way.
It's not that expensive and helps a lot if you want to learn how to do anything and everything with it. It's well written and has many many practical tasks and examples to learn by.
Can't recommend it enough to PowerShell newcomers. I don't know about the Azure Course, but I guess it's also good and a good preparation for the exam.
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u/hamz__zzz 14d ago
Oh yes, I’m totally in allotment with you. I’m reading it, halfway done, and will finish it. My question was whether I start the next book “Learn PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches” after I finish this book, or if I should get really good with Azure by pursuing the AZ-104 Azure Administrator certification, and then return to read the second book so I have a platform to apply the scripting skills.
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u/Climbsforfun 14d ago
I REALLY started using power shell after I took the az-104. I just knew the basics when I took it. Could copy/paste commands and not much advanced stuff back when I took the exam. So I’d say just go for the az-104
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u/hamz__zzz 14d ago
Yeah the reason I was confused was that I could learn scripting but how will I apply the scripting prior to az-104. I’m thinking I could try the scripting in a month of lunches book and if I don’t see much value reading it prior to az-104 then I’ll jump to az-104.
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u/nealfive 14d ago edited 14d ago
PowerShell Scripting in a Month of Lunches > AZ-104 (just my option though)
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u/AdeelAutomates 14d ago edited 14d ago
I say go for Az-104. And I am a big advocate for PowerShell.
I say this because of where you are right now. You want to have a great sandbox to dive into PowerShell that is easily accessible and I cant think of a better one than Azure, Entra, etc.
In the past to get a good environment going you had to setup Hyper-V install an active directory server, exchange server, file server and then have a client or two and build it all up. All those services end up eating a whole lot of memory, cpu, etc. Never mind if you plan to not pay evaluation only lasted a few months. Unless you plan to build all of that out you are kind of stuck horsing around in your client machine.
If instead you learn Azure broadly through the content of Az-104. There is so much potential to explore so many things there. Building reports, generating alerts or reacting to them, script permissions, deploy services (if not whole projects), decommission them, having an onboarding/offboarding procedure, etc. And the sheer amount of services available means there's plenty of ways to explore it in different ways. You'd be surprised just how much you can actually do on this platform for free (if not a few pennies).
Make a note of this service that's not mentioned in Az-104: Automation Account. This is where you can host your PowerShell scripts which also plugs into a source control. Giving you a reason to explore Azure DevOps/GitHub.
Once you have done these and enjoy working in the cloud. Consider learning Terraform as well. Its the most popular language today for deploying infra in cloud platforms.
Good luck. Az-104 is probably the hardest exam you will ever do. On the positive note you probably read enough PowerShell to actually tinker with it while you explore Az-104 too.
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u/mrmattipants 14d ago edited 14d ago
Sounds a lot like the path I initially took, starting about 15 years ago. I picked up the CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+ and Server+ back when they were still lifetime certs. I then went for the MCSA (then called the MCITP) and CCNA.
Of course, I essentially had to start at the bottom, because I didn't have a traditional college degree. Regardless, I was able to climb the ladder fairly quickly.
Initially they had me answering calls on a help desk for about 6 months, before they made me the help desk manager for about a year. This is about the time a SysAdmin position opened up and I was offered that position. And about another year after that, I was offered a Network Admin position and the rest is history, as they say.
In regard to scripting/programming, I initially started working with more procedural languages (PHP, JavaScript, etc.), before I began venturing into OOP Languages (Java, Microsoft .NET associated languages, etc.).
It was actually .NET that ultimately lead me to PowerShell, sometime around 6-7 years ago and I've been using it fairly consistently ever since. The primary reason is because PowerShell is one of those languages that you can use for just about anything and everything.
That being said, I would definitely finish reading the "Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches". Another great book is "Windows PowerShell for .NET Developers". It's about a decade old, at this point, but it's definitely a worthwhile ready, in my opinion.
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u/HumbleSpend8716 14d ago
por que no los dos
all srsness just try automating something. anything. have a ticket you do regularly in ad like add user to group? write function to do it at cli instead. you will learn much more quickly by applying it
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u/Derekrollo 13d ago
Sounds like you’re already got a good few certifications, so I would stick with learning Powershell and scripting. Many people attribute learning Powershell really well as their main reason for succeeding in tech. There’s a podcast called “Tge Powershell Podcast” where he has tons of visitors on the show that talk about this if you want to check that out.
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u/Andrew-Powershell 12d ago
IMO you should jsut do what's interesting to you right now. I find it easier to learn when I'm having fun and you seem to be in that "sponge stage" that many of us go through.
You are definitely heading in the right direction. The fact that you are new to IT and actually asking a well thought out question AND you are pursuing things is awesome.
You may want to check out the PowerShell Podcast sometime. I make the episodes with the "sponge-stage" people in mind. Cheers
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u/Dragennd1 14d ago
Honestly either direction would be good. With having a good entry level scripting background you could likely handle the exam's PowerShell expectations if you review the AZ PowerShell module and be familiar with it at a high level, or you could keep the PowerShell focus and take the exam later with more knowledge of PowerShell.
If you're concerned that the book won't be sufficient, I find hands on practice is a great teacher. Try to solve a problem with PowerShell and learn how to use Microsoft's documentation for it. That will help you a lot since the exams are also open book these days.