User scripts

I have been using Narcissis to create angstrom builds and get them to boot. The Beagleboard boots fine to the log in prompt on the console. I see the file structure in place and can move through it, but I get no GUI on my monitor and very few linux commands work, cd and ls do but adduser, sudo, and other very basic commands don’t. It is as if there is no path set up. what am I missing?

Also, I do not understand the multitude of user scripts Narcissis creates in the user script sub directory under the boot directory (the one with the uImage, MLO etc.) Is there a tutorial on script files somewhere I could study? Is there a standard file that the boot loader looks for?

Thanks, ted