Video Summary
The newsroom reviewed a YouTube tutorial by Dean Ellerby [MVP] titled “PSADT Migration: Upgrade scripts from v3 to v4 Step-by-Step,” which walks through upgrading the PowerShell App Deployment Toolkit. The video presents a clear, practical demo of installing pre-release migration tools and testing script compatibility. It shows how to convert individual files or whole package folders automatically, and then how to review and run the migrated scripts. As a result, viewers receive a hands-on guide that mirrors common IT packaging workflows.
Migration Tools and Process
First, the presenter explains how to add the PSAppDeployToolkit.Tools module and why the module matters for migration. Next, he demonstrates the compatibility scan using the Test-ADTCompatibility cmdlet and then the automated conversion with Convert-ADTDeployment, showing both file-level and folder-level flows. After conversion, the video walks through spot-checking converted blocks like Install, Uninstall, and Repair to ensure they match intended behavior. Finally, the tutorial stresses running converted scripts in a controlled test environment before broad deployment.
Benefits and Tradeoffs
The update to v4 brings stronger security through code-signing and command validation, which helps protect deployment pipelines from tampering. However, adopting code-signing introduces administrative overhead because teams must manage signing certificates and update workflows accordingly. Moreover, the modular PSD1 configuration and PowerShell 7 support improve maintainability and future-proofing, yet they require some learning and adjustments for teams still using legacy patterns. In short, the benefits are substantial, but they come with setup and training costs.
Automation Versus Manual Review
Automated conversion reduces the time and risk of rewriting scripts by hand and addresses many common patterns reliably. Nevertheless, the video points out that custom variables, function declarations outside main blocks, and legacy v3 config elements will often need manual updates after conversion. Therefore, teams must balance speed against accuracy by combining automated tooling with careful review and selective manual editing. Additionally, the pre-release status of the tools means organizations should plan for occasional adjustments and community-driven fixes.
Testing, Compatibility, and Deployment Risks
Dean Ellerby emphasizes using compatibility mode and phased rollouts to reduce disruption while teams transition to v4. He also recommends merging minor updates and resolving diffs with tools like file compare utilities, since the toolkit does not fully automate small version merges. Consequently, testing in staging, validating command behavior, and confirming rollback paths remain essential to avoid service interruptions. In practice, that means allowing extra time in deployment schedules for validation and remediation.
Practical Takeaways for IT Teams
The video provides a pragmatic playbook: install the migration module, run compatibility scans, convert packages, review converted code, and then test in a controlled environment. For teams, the tradeoff is between accelerating migration with automation and preserving custom functionality through careful manual review and testing. Overall, the tutorial recommends moving to v4 to gain security and modern PowerShell support while advising measured, well-tested rollouts to manage risk. As a result, IT teams can modernize packaging practices without sudden disruption by planning and validating each migration step.
