Getting content and redirecting to the same file in a single command

Prerequisites

• Write a descriptive title.
• Make sure you are able to repro it on the latest released version
• Search the existing issues.
• Refer to the FAQ.
• Refer to Differences between Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell.

Steps to reproduce

PS> "hello" > o
PS> (Get-Content o) > o

Expected behavior

PS> Get-Content o
hello

Actual behavior

PS> Get-Content o

Error details

No response

Environment data

PSVersion                      7.1.5
PSEdition                      Core
GitCommitId                    7.1.5
OS                             Microsoft Windows 10.0.19043
Platform                       Win32NT
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0…}
PSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.3
SerializationVersion           1.1.0.1
WSManStackVersion              3.0

Visuals

No response

[jhoneill]

Isn’t the first thing that happens when you specify | out-file is the begin phase opens it as a new file for writing, then during the process phase get-content reads the newly empty file.

[vexx32]

Given the file write operation is failing here, I would at least expect some kind of error to be given. The append scenario is worse, but I think both cases could be much better.