Introduction to Psake

Syntax#

Task - main function to execute a step of your build script
Depends - property that specify what the current step depends upon
default - there must always be a default task that will get executed if no initial task is specified
FormatTaskName - specifies how each step is displayed in the result window.

Remarks#

psake is a build automation tool written in PowerShell, and is inspired by Rake (Ruby make) and Bake (Boo make). It is used to create builds using dependency pattern. Documentation available here

Basic outline

Task Rebuild -Depends Clean, Build  {
   "Rebuild"
 }

Task Build {
   "Build"
 }

Task Clean {
   "Clean"
 }

Task default -Depends Build

FormatTaskName example

# Will display task as:
# -------- Rebuild --------
# -------- Build --------
FormatTaskName "-------- {0} --------"  

# will display tasks in yellow colour:
# Running Rebuild  
FormatTaskName {
    param($taskName)
    "Running $taskName" - foregroundcolor yellow
}

Task Rebuild -Depends Clean, Build  {
   "Rebuild"
 }

Task Build {
   "Build"
 }

Task Clean {
   "Clean"
 }

Task default -Depends Build

Run Task conditionally

propreties { 
    $isOk = $false
}

# By default the Build task won't run, unless there is a param $true
Task Build -precondition { return $isOk } {
   "Build"
 }

Task Clean {
   "Clean"
 }

Task default -Depends Build

ContinueOnError

Task Build -depends Clean {
   "Build"
 }

Task Clean -ContinueOnError {
   "Clean"
    throw "throw on purpose, but the task will continue to run"
 }

Task default -Depends Build