Walls and Ceilings - Joint compound question

After reading the many threads here, I'm confused by the role of joint compound on blueboard and/or sheetrock.

I am putting up a simple wall in my basment workshop. First of all, I am not having this wall plastered by a professional. So, then, do I use blueboard or sheetrock? It will be primed and painted afterwards.

Second, after I fill in the joints with tape and joint compound, do I need to apply a skimcoat over the entire surface prior to painting? This is the part that is most confusing to me: i.e., do I just prime over the bare blueboard or sheetrock, or am I supposed to cover the whole surface with a skimcoat?

Also, why would I choose blueboard over sheetrock, or vice-versa in this situation? Is it that blueboard requires plaster?

Thanks.

Blue board is for plaster applications. It has a chemical in it that bonds plaster. You do need to skim the entire surface with plaster over blueboard. If you use a regular drywall application, which I would recommend, you need to finish the joints only with joint compound (usually called mud). Then paint the entire surface. Don't confuse blue board with green board. Green board is moisture resistant drywall and finishes the same as regular.