From installing the database to a terminalbased development environment (no replies)

I've just installed a mysql server which seems to be running.

I am running the mysql server on ubuntu. I have before used mysql on the computers at my school by writing something like:

mysql -h hostname -u username password

Then I get to a mysql prompt where I can run mysql queries and develop my database.

I want to set up something like this on my own computer but I don't know what the next step is. Any hints about what I should do/read up on?