Command Prompt vs PowerShell: Which Should Developers Use?
Both Command Prompt (cmd) and PowerShell (powershell) are built into Windows—but they serve different purposes.
As someone who's been optimizing developer workflows for decades, I often help teams choose the right tool for automation, scripting, and deployment. Here's what you need to know.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Command Prompt (cmd) | PowerShell (powershell) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Traditional Windows shell | Advanced automation and scripting |
| Command Style | DOS-style (dir, copy, ping) | Rich .NET-based cmdlets |
| Scripting Language | .bat, .cmd (batch) | .ps1 (PowerShell script) |
| Data Handling | Plain text | Native support for JSON, XML, and objects |
| Pipeline Support | ❌ Text-only | ✅ Full object-oriented pipelines |
| System Admin | Basic tasks | Full automation and remote admin |
| Remoting | ❌ No | ✅ Enter-PSSession, SSH, WinRM |
| Linux-style Aliases | ❌ None | ✅ Supports ls, cat, grep, etc. |
When Should You Use Each?
✅ Use cmd when:
- You just need to run legacy scripts or quick file commands
- You're using Windows' native tools (
ipconfig,tasklist, etc.) - You're doing quick fixes or navigating folders
✅ Use PowerShell when:
- You’re automating deployments or server tasks
- You need to parse or manipulate structured data (JSON, XML)
- You’re administering Windows at scale
- You want to script once and re-use across projects
Examples Side by Side
1. List Files in a Directory
- CMD
dir
- PowerShell
Get-ChildItem
2. Delete a File
- CMD
del file.txt
- PowerShell
Remove-Item file.txt
3. Check Running Processes
- CMD
tasklist
- PowerShell
Get-Process
4. Network Connections
- CMD
netstat -an
- PowerShell
Get-NetTCPConnection
5. Read a JSON File (PowerShell only)
Get-Content data.json | ConvertFrom-Json
Which One Do I Recommend?
"CMD is great for quick fixes. PowerShell is what you build systems on."
In my DevStack, I’ve wrapped PowerShell into CI/CD pipelines, remote provisioning scripts, and automation modules that dramatically speed up deployment. It’s how you turn good code into a robust system.
If you're a solo dev or small team, learning PowerShell is one of the highest ROI decisions you can make.
Bonus Tip: Bring Business Value, Not Just Code
It’s not just about writing automation scripts. It’s about solving business problems.
With 40 years of business experience, I’ve helped companies:
✅ Automate deployments
✅ Cut down hosting costs
✅ Improve team onboarding and code hygiene
Ask me how a one-line PowerShell change brought in $25k/year in new revenue for a client.
Need Help Streamlining Your DevOps?
- Review my tech stack
- Check my CV
- Or just get in touch to talk about how I can help your team work smarter—not harder.