PowerShell for SharePoint

Windows PowerShell is a task-based command-line shell and scripting language designed especially for system administration. Built on the .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell™ helps IT professionals and power users control and automate the administration of the Windows operating system and applications that run on Windows.
Built-in Windows PowerShell commands, called cmdlets, let you manage the computers in your enterprise from the command line. Windows PowerShell™ providers let you access data stores, such as the registry and certificate store, as easily as you access the file system. In addition, Windows PowerShell™ has a rich expression parser and a fully developed scripting language.

With SharePoint 2010 developers and administrators will have full access to the SharePoint API from the PowerShell Command line. Stsadm will continue to be supported and users will be able to continue using it however it will be depreciated over time. PowerShell is a lot more flexible and powerful.
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