What is "psake"

psake is a domain-specific language and build automation tool written in PowerShell to create builds using a dependency pattern similar to Rake or MSBuild. It is intends to simplify the build language as compared to MSBuild scripting.

A build script consists of Tasks. Each Task is a function that can define dependencies on other Task functions.

The following is an example psake script:

Task default -Depends Build Task Build -Depends Init,Clean,Compile { "build" } Task Compile -Depends Clean, Init { "compile" } Task Clean -Depends Init { "clean" } Task Init { "init" }

psake executes the Task functions and enforces the dependencies between tasks. Since psake is written in a real programming language and not XML, you have a lot more freedom and flexibility in your build scripts. You can use all the features of PowerShell and the .NET Framework within your build.

The output of running psake on the script above is shown below:

PS > .\psake.ps1 default.ps1 Executing task: Init init Executing task: Clean clean Executing task: Compile compile Executing task: Build compile Build Succeeded! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Build Time Report ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Name Duration ---- -------- Init 00:00:00.0140878 Clean 00:00:00.0113634 Compile 00:00:00.0334894 Build 00:00:00.1288015 Total: 00:00:00.4693739