# A Real Tool

The parts every real tool has: objects of its own, a place for its data, friendly output, and maybe a window.

Updated: November 10, 2026

## [Data](https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/powershell-in-depth/topics/powershell-data)

1. [Objects of Your Own: \`\[PSCustomObject\]\`](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/powershell-custom-objects) (Journeyman): \[PSCustomObject\]@{ } builds an object of your own with named properties, so a tool you write hands back results that Sort-Object, Where-Object and Export-Csv can work with, the way they work with PowerShell's own commands, instead of lines of text.
2. [Where a Tool Keeps Its Data](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/powershell-app-data) (Journeyman): A tool keeps its data in a folder of its own under $env:LOCALAPPDATA, builds the path with Join-Path, creates the folder the first time it runs, and saves and loads its objects as JSON, so what you add today is still there tomorrow, whatever folder you're in.

## [Friendly Output](https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/powershell-in-depth/topics/powershell-friendly-output)

1. [Friendly Output: Colors and Progress](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/powershell-friendly-output) (Journeyman): Write-Progress shows a progress bar while a long job runs, so nobody wonders whether it's stuck, and $PSStyle colors make the important lines stand out on the screen, as long as the colors stay in what you show and never go into the objects a tool hands back.
2. [Your Script Can Have a Window Too](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/powershell-windows-forms) (Freelancer): On Windows, a script can open a small window of its own with .NET's Windows Forms: a form, a list, a button and a label, with a script block that runs when the button is clicked, so a colleague who would rather click can use your tool without typing a command.

## [Exercise: A Recipe Box Module](https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/powershell-in-depth/topics/exercise-powershell-a-recipe-box-module)

1. [Exercise: A Recipe Box Module](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/exercise-powershell-a-recipe-box-module) (Freelancer): Turn a recipe-box module that prints lines of text into a real tool, so its recipes come back as objects you can sort and filter, live in a folder of their own under $env:LOCALAPPDATA, show in color on the screen without a color in the data, and fill a small window with a list and a button, while a Pester check tries it on a recipe box of its own.

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/powershell-in-depth/chapters/powershell-a-real-tool