some more progress

scripts/helpers/devshell.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+if ($env:VCINSTALLDIR) {
+    return
+}
+
+$ErrorActionPreference = "Stop"
+
+# Use vswhere to find the latest Visual Studio installation
+$vswhere_out = & "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vswhere.exe" -latest -property installationPath
+if ($null -eq $vswhere_out) {
+    Write-Host "ERROR: Visual Studio installation not found"
+    exit 1
+}
+
+# Find Launch-VsDevShell.ps1 in the Visual Studio installation
+$vs_path     = $vswhere_out
+$vs_devshell = Join-Path $vs_path "\Common7\Tools\Launch-VsDevShell.ps1"
+
+if ( -not (Test-Path $vs_devshell) ) {
+    Write-Host "ERROR: Launch-VsDevShell.ps1 not found in Visual Studio installation"
+    Write-Host Tested path: $vs_devshell
+    exit 1
+}
+
+# Launch the Visual Studio Developer Shell
+Push-Location
+write-host @args
+& $vs_devshell @args
+Pop-Location

scripts/helpers/incremental_checks.ps1

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+# This is meant to be used with build.ps1, and is not a standalone script.
+
+function check-FileForChanges
+{
+    param(
+        [Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]
+        [string]$path_file
+    )
+
+    if (-not (Test-Path $path_file -PathType Leaf)) {
+        Write-Error "The provided path is not a valid file: $path_file"
+        return $false
+    }
+    $file_name = Split-Path $path_file -Leaf
+    $path_csv  = Join-Path $path_build ($file_name + "_file_hash.csv")
+
+    $csv_file_hash = $null
+    if (Test-Path $path_csv) {
+        $csv_file_hash = Import-Csv $path_csv | Select-Object -ExpandProperty value
+    }
+
+    $current_hash_info = Get-FileHash -Path $path_file -Algorithm MD5
+    $current_file_hash = $current_hash_info.Hash
+
+    # Save the current hash to the CSV
+    [PSCustomObject]@{
+        name  = $path_file
+        value = $current_file_hash
+    } | Export-Csv $path_csv -NoTypeInformation
+
+    if ($csv_file_hash -and $csv_file_hash -eq $current_file_hash) {
+        return $false
+    } else {
+        return $true
+    }
+}
+
+# Check to see if the module has changed files since the last build
+function check-ModuleForChanges
+{
+	param( [string]$path_module, [array]$excludes )
+
+	$module_name = split-path $path_module -leaf
+	$path_csv    = Join-Path $path_build ($module_name + "_module_hashes.csv")
+
+	$csv_file_hashes = $null
+	if ( test-path $path_csv ) {
+		$csv_file_hashes = @{}
+		import-csv $path_csv | foreach-object {
+			$csv_file_hashes[ $_.name ] = $_.value
+		}
+	}
+
+	$file_hashes = @{}
+	get-childitem -path $path_module -recurse -file -Exclude $excludes | foreach-object {
+		$id                 = $_.fullname
+		$hash_info          = get-filehash -path $id -Algorithm MD5
+		$file_hashes[ $id ] = $hash_info.Hash
+	}
+
+	$file_hashes.GetEnumerator() | foreach-object { [PSCustomObject]$_ } |
+		export-csv $path_csv -NoTypeInformation
+
+	if ( -not $csv_file_hashes )                         { return $true }
+	if ( $csv_file_hashes.Count -ne $file_hashes.Count ) { return $true }
+
+	foreach ( $key in $csv_file_hashes.Keys ) {
+		if ( $csv_file_hashes[ $key ] -ne $file_hashes[ $key ] ) {
+			return $true
+		}
+	}
+	return $false
+}

scripts/helpers/misc.psm1

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+function Get-ScriptRepoRoot {
+    $currentPath = $PSScriptRoot
+    while ($currentPath -ne $null -and $currentPath -ne "")
+	{
+        if (Test-Path (Join-Path $currentPath ".git")) {
+            return $currentPath
+        }
+        # Also check for .git file which indicates a submodule
+        $gitFile = Join-Path $currentPath ".git"
+        if (Test-Path $gitFile -PathType Leaf)
+		{
+            $gitContent = Get-Content $gitFile
+            if ($gitContent -match "gitdir: (.+)") {
+                return $currentPath
+            }
+        }
+        $currentPath = Split-Path $currentPath -Parent
+    }
+    throw "Unable to find repository root"
+}