Summary: Honorary Scripting Guy and PowerShell MVP, Don Jones, makes his Windows PowerShell community predictions for 2014.Microsoft Scripting Guy, Ed Wilson, is here. Today I invited Don Jones, Windows PowerShell MVP and Honorary Scripting Guy, to write some predictions for 2014. And now, here’s Don… 2014 is shaping up to be a big year for the Windows PowerShell community. Let’s start with what’s on tap for PowerShell.org:

• We’re planning two, two, two Windows PowerShell Summit events! One will be at the end of April 2014 in Bellevue, Washington, and the other at the end of September 2014 in Amsterdam. These events present mega opportunities to interact with MVPs and the product team, and to make new connections with the experts in our community.
• The Scripting Games will return in a new, collaborative, team-based format. They will feature more complex scenarios and really let you exercise real-world skills.
• We’ll be at Microsoft TechEd in Houston. Once again, we’ll be sharing a booth with the Scripting Guys, and we will be bringing a new must-have goodie (we’re thinking about a Windows PowerShell Quick Reference Pocket Guide).
• We’ll be announcing the first-ever PowerShell Hero recognitions, based on your nominations. These are designed to recognize the folks who are helping and moving the community, but who haven’t formally been recognized by established programs like the MVP Award. See Nominate Your PowerShell Hero if you’d like to nominate someone.
• We’ll be launching the full version of Verified Effective, a Windows PowerShell-focused, real-world, panel-reviewed certification program.
• We’ll be launching the Association for Windows PowerShell Professionals. Intended to help foster professionalism in the world of PowerShell, association membership will include Summit attendance, annual certification exams, peer script review opportunities, and other professional benefits. See Association for Windows PowerShell Professionals for details.
• We’ll also continue to help bring you resources like the PowerScripting Podcast, free ebooks, and our friendly Q&A forums.

But PowerShell.org certainly isn’t the beginning or the end of the awesomeness that is the Windows PowerShell community, and I hope you’ll take some time to see what else is going on. Make 2014 your year to learn a tip from the PowerShell Magazine, share code in the PoshCode repository, or answer a question in The Official Scripting Guys Forum. Now, how about some predictions for Windows PowerShell in 2014? It’s my hope that we’ll see more local PowerShell Saturday events. Folks like Jim Christopher, Teresa Wilson, and Mark Schill are doing a great job running a low-cost, information-packed experience for folks in their region, and I hope we can help other folks do the same thing. Mark has volunteered to offer tips and advice to any would-be PowerShell Saturday hosts. (A little birdie also told me that Teresa got the ball rolling with Brandon Bollin for PowerShell Saturday in Toledo.) I hope we’ll see more international Windows PowerShell events, too, like the excellent event Tobias Weltner and company put together in Germany. They’re doing it again in 2014, and PowerShell.org stands ready to help anyone who’d like to hold one in their country. Regardless, I hope you will be a part of the community in 2014. Even if you’re just lurking in the forums on PowerShell.org, take the time in 2014 to make Windows PowerShell more than just a tool. Make it part of your career. Connect with your peers and colleagues in the Windows PowerShell industry, and together let’s automate the world! ~Don Thanks, Don, for all the wonderful information regarding the Windows PowerShell Community and your predictions for 2014. I invite you to follow me on Twitter and Facebook. If you have any questions, send email to me at scripter@microsoft.com, or post your questions on the Official Scripting Guys Forum. See you tomorrow. Until then, peace.

Ed Wilson, Microsoft Scripting Guy