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Specification: PowerShell Module Full Parity - #6290

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Specification: PowerShell Module Full Parity#6290
Demitrius Nelon (denelon) wants to merge 5 commits into
microsoft:masterfrom
denelon:spec/powershell-module-parity

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@denelonDemitrius Nelon (denelon) commented Jun 17, 2026•
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📖 Description

Specification for achieving full functional parity between the WinGet PowerShell modules and the CLI.

Revised after review to reflect the actual shipping source rather than an overstated gap list. Key corrections:

  • Documents what already exists in both Microsoft.WinGet.Client and Microsoft.WinGet.Configuration (download = Export-WinGetPackage, repair = Repair-WinGetPackage, configure test/show/list/abort/delete, user/admin settings, -Scope).
  • Scopes the real command gaps to: pin management (Add/Get/Remove/Reset-WinGetPin) and package list import/export (winget export/import, #5041) — distinct from Export-WinGetPackage (download).
  • Reframes elevated/SYSTEM context as reliability bugs in the existing custom activation paths (#5991, #6042), not missing features.
  • Fixes the architecture: Microsoft.WinGet.Configuration uses Microsoft.Management.Configuration, not Microsoft.Management.Deployment.
  • Models pins with a PinType (Pinning/Blocking/Gating) and drops deep COM interface design per review feedback (keeps cmdlet inputs/outputs only).
  • Removes the module-consolidation future consideration (the two modules do not overlap).
  • Adds an issue-tracked enhancement backlog for existing cmdlets.

Authored with GitHub Copilot assistance.

🔗 References

Related Issues:

Related PR:

🔍 Validation

Spec document — no code changes to validate.

✅ Checklist

📋 Issue Type

  • Bug fix
  • Feature
  • Task
Microsoft Reviewers: Open in CodeFlow

Demitrius NelonDemitrius Nelon
Add spec: PowerShell Module Full Parity (microsoft#6288)
9b2bcb0
Specification for achieving full functional parity between the WinGet
PowerShell module and the CLI, including SYSTEM context support,
new cmdlets for configure/pin/download/repair/settings operations,
and enhanced source management.
Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Trenly
Kaleb Luedtke (Trenly) reviewed Jun 17, 2026
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Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Trenly
Kaleb Luedtke (Trenly) reviewed Jun 17, 2026
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Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md
Demitrius Nelonand others added 2 commits June 17, 2026 13:01
Demitrius NelonDemitrius Nelon
Clarify two-module architecture in PS parity spec
334bd64
WinGet ships two separate PowerShell modules:
- Microsoft.WinGet.Client (package management)
- Microsoft.WinGet.Configuration (configuration/DSC operations)
Update spec to clearly delineate which cmdlets belong to which module,
add Configuration-specific gaps (history, abort, delete), update the
architecture diagram, and note module consolidation as a future
consideration.
Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Demitrius NelonDemitrius Nelon
Address review feedback from Trenly
7246821
- Remove detailed IDL interface definitions (too implementation-level
for a spec; keep high-level description of needed COM surface)
- Use PinType property instead of IsBlocking for future expandability
(supports checking gating pins too)
- Add PR microsoft#6190 (Configuration module improvements) to Resources
Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
JohnMcPMS
JohnMcPMS reviewed Jun 23, 2026
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Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md Outdated
Demitrius Nelon
Address review feedback: correct overstated parity gaps
0697820
Rewrite the PowerShell parity spec against the actual shipping source.
Most CLI surface already has cmdlets (download=Export-WinGetPackage,
repair=Repair-WinGetPackage, configure test/show/list/abort/delete,
settings, -Scope). Scope the real gaps to pin management and package
list import/export. Reframe elevated/SYSTEM context as reliability bugs
in the existing activation paths, not missing features. Fix the
architecture to show Configuration uses Microsoft.Management.Configuration.
Model pins with PinType (incl. gating) and drop deep COM interface design
per review. Remove the module-consolidation idea.
Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
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Demitrius Nelon
Add SCCM and runbooks to spelling allow list
2a91419
Resolve check-spelling failures for the PowerShell parity spec.
Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Trenly
Kaleb Luedtke (Trenly) reviewed Jul 28, 2026
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Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md
[-Source <String>] [-IncludeVersions]

# Install everything described by an export file
Import-WinGetPackageList -File "C:\state\packages.json"

@TrenlyKaleb Luedtke (Trenly)Jul 28, 2026

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PowerShell conventions generally prefer -Path

Comment threaddoc/specs/#6288 - PowerShell Module Full Parity.md

```powershell
# Serialize installed packages to a WinGet import/export JSON file
Export-WinGetPackageList -OutputFile "C:\state\packages.json"

@TrenlyKaleb Luedtke (Trenly)Jul 28, 2026

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PowerShell conventions generally prefer -Path

@Karl-WE

Karl Wester-Ebbinghaus (Karl-WE) commented Jul 30, 2026

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Demitrius Nelon (@denelon) I would like to propose tagging this as breaking change for this to qualify for version 2.0.
Feature parity of PowerShell might require changes like harmonizing or decluttering existing PowerShell commands / switches.

@denelonDemitrius Nelon (denelon) added the Breaking-Change This is potentially a breaking change for a future major version label Jul 31, 2026
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