What is PowerShell written in?
PowerShell is a cross-platform command-line interface and scripting language for system and network administration, first released in 2006.
Implementation
| Layer | Written in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compiler | C# | PowerShell is implemented in C# on .NET. |
Compiler implementation
The PowerShell compiler, written in C#, translates PowerShell source code into an executable or intermediate format. The choice of implementation language affects the compiler's portability, build-time dependencies, and the path toward PowerShell eventually becoming self-hosting.
Many language compilers are written in C or C++ for maximum portability and performance. When a compiler is written in a higher-level language, it can leverage that language's abstractions for clearer compiler code, at the cost of a longer bootstrap dependency chain.
Explore in the Graph
See PowerShell's full lineage, including all implementation and influence relationships, in the interactive graph.
Open Interactive Graph →Or view the PowerShell language page for the complete record.