I hear you. I don't need to implement a full fledged terminal program. I can do something fairly simple really. It could use wraparound rather than use scrolling for example. Also, my protocol is query, answer, so I could easily display this on a split screen showing the lines side by side which I am doing now, but using ANSI codes to display in different colors. White space would work just as well and be simpler.
If Pty is "complicated to program", I'd rather use sockets I think. The reason I'm shying away is that the socket interface broke when I got a new laptop with Win 8. I can't seem to figure out what is wrong and I'm tired of looking. I just want to have more control of my code. The real use of this program is in production test where they are running Win 7 and older boxes. So that all still works. I could use the rPi in the lab when using the test fixture for other purposes.
Thanks for your comments. I certainly have stuff to think about.
I've cross posted this to the comp.lang.forth forum and I'm a bit surprised I haven't gotten any replies from the gforth people. Maybe I just need to give it more time. It *is* Sunday after all. lol
Any idea where folks normally get help with gForth?