### Shell

The command shell is the nucleus of the NeXtMidas system. It is the piece of software that receives and reacts to text commands from the user or interoperating software. Throughout the history of the Midas family, there have been numerous shells with various features, some welcomed and others despised. Suffice it to say that command shells tend to evoke strongly held opinions and that, on more than one occasion, dissatisfaction with the best available shell has been the impetus for creating an entirely new Midas variant.

For flexibility, NeXtMidas provides several shell operating modes, which are described in Modes of Operation. Advantages and disadvantages of the NeXtMidas shell are summarized in Pros and Cons.