How are [environment] and $env different in powershell?

Question

On Windows Threshold beta, I can run:

$env:username

And see the username. I can also run:

[environment]::username

And see the username.

However while I can run

$env:computername

To see the hostname, trying to run:

[environment]::computername

does not show any results.

Why doesn't [environment]::computername work? What's the difference between $env and [environment]?

CB. · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-25 14:06:18Z

5

try using

[environment]::machinename

$env is directly bound to enviroment variable

[environment] is a .net class

edited Aug 25, 2015 at 14:06

answered Aug 25, 2015 at 14:03

CB.

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4 Comments

mikemaccana Over a year ago

So are there two environments? A traditional shell environment, with its own keys and values, and a separate .net environment?

CB. Over a year ago

@mikemaccana The .net class also retrieve value from environmet variable but as a class had methods and properties. Example: ` [environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("computername")` reads the enironment variale but [environment]::machinename read the netbios name directly.

mikemaccana Over a year ago

Thanks @CB. Is there ultimately one data store in total or two?

CB. Over a year ago

@mikemaccana I think more then one. If you set $env:computername = "Jack" and try read again with $env and with .net class you have different results.

Ocaso Protal · Accepted Answer · 2015-08-25 14:11:57Z

4

When you use [environment]::computername you are in fact using .NET code in Powershell. So reading the documentation for the Environment Class reveals that you should use [environment]::machinename instead.

$env is a shortcut for the environment PSDrive.

I don't know why Microsoft uses two different names here.

BTW: There are a lot more ways to get the computername, you could also e.g. use wmi: Get-WMIObject Win32_ComputerSystem | Select-Object -ExpandProperty name

edited Aug 25, 2015 at 14:11

answered Aug 25, 2015 at 14:06

Ocaso Protal

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1 Comment

CB. Over a year ago

another way is just using hostname.exe ;)

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