As a new ARMLinux user, you will have to get to grips with the UNIX command prompt although memory-efficient GUIs like fvwm are available. Regular users of Linux call this prompt a shell and it is the means by which you can communicate with the kernel. In fact, the shell is a program which you can use to do all your Linux work if this is what you desire. Because Linux has been developed by a range of people with different interests and needs, it is not surprising that there are a range of shells that you can choose from. Examples include the Bourne Again Shell (Bash) and the Korn Shell (ksh). To find out the name of your current shell type the following command at the prompt:
echo $SHELL
If the response is: /bin/bash then your default shell is bash. Bash is a good shell to learn both because it is installed by default on many Linux distributions and because it has a range of features which you will learn to use as your Linux experience increases. It can also be a good idea to learn how to work with a second shell in case you ever have to use a machine that is not running Bash.
