We are currently working on the new PowerPack architecture to turn them into real add-ons with automated upgrades and so on, and we would like to learn more about how you use or plan to use PowerPacks to make sure we design the system that satisfies your needs.
Here’s the key question that we’d like you to comment upon:
When you use someone else’s PowerPack, do you ever need to modify it, and if so how?
The obvious reason for the question is that the more you modify a pack, the harder it is to automatically upgrade it to a newer version, when the pack owner releases one.
So my personal inclination is to say: for tree nodes no changes are permitted if the node is a part of a PowerPack. You cannot delete any nodes or folders, edit any code, change parameters for cmdlet nodes, rename anything, change order, create your own subnodes – nothing. The only thing allowed is selecting the columns you need in the grid.
If you need to change things – you select the nodes you need (or a subtree with the nodes) and Ctrl-drag them to another folder in the tree to create your own copy. You can then do anything you like to these copied items. However, these are indeed one time copies which will not get upgraded when the original PowerPack creator makes any changes to his/her product and publishes the upgrade.
Does this sound fair or too harsh? If this is too limiting please share your scenarios. Post your comments to this forum thread if you have powergui.org login and to this post if you don’t.
Tags: PowerGUI, PowerPack, PowerShell
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