Windows Terminal client that supports graphics

[mdijkens]

Hi,

I am trying to build a simple small Z80 computer based on Grant Searle's SBC.
For keyboard/screen I specifically want to use a serial interface with a terminal client, so I don't have to get/use a separate monitor and keyboard.

From the programs running on the Z80 I can use colors and cursor-control via ANSI escape commands which are supported by terminal clients like PuTTy.

But I also want to be able to use (simple) graphics like drawing a graph.
I have been googling for days now to find ANSI standards for this and support in existing terminal clients, but haven't found an existing protocol/standard yet supported by any of these clients...
Of course I can program my own terminal client, but it seems like an overkill for 99% of all ANSI escape commands that I will also have to program then myself :-(

So my question is: Are there existing windows terminal clients that already support some simple ANSI escape commands for setting/clearing pixels in a terminal screen?
I am looking for full ANSI support with additional Escape commands for things like setPixel(x,y,color)

[bd139]

You're in for a world of fun there. There's no ANSI standards as such for this. You have a few options which can be emulated (you will have to google for software):

Tektronix 4010 - storage CRT based. Chuck on lots of 70s and early 80s electronic music for this:



VT340 - way more advanced:



There are more out there of course.

[RoGeorge]

Maybe a VT240/VT241 compatible terminal?

The VT220 is an ANSI standard computer terminal introduced by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in 1983.[1][2] The VT240 added monochrome ReGIS vector graphics support to the base model, while the VT241 did the same in color. The 200 series replaced the successful VT100 series, providing more functionality in a much smaller unit with a much smaller and lighter keyboard. Among its major upgrades was a number of international character sets, as well as the ability to define new character sets.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT220

[mdijkens]

Yep, I ran into these standards. Some lack the 'standard' ANSI color/font stuff and others like VT241 seem very nice and complete.
But then, finding a terminal client for Windows that support these seems very difficult

I might develop something myself in Visual Basic (sorry that's what I  know) but I'm not looking forward to program 99% of what is already standard in most terminal clients. The graphics functions I am looking for are not that difficult (just setting pixel color) but all the rest of the ANSI codes are so many and some much harder to develop myself...

[ebclr]

Try this one

https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/download.html

[RoGeorge]

But then, finding a terminal client for Windows that support these seems very difficult

You need to google about ReGIS.  A random result: https://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/1dsjyj/i_wrote_an_open_source_terminal_emulator_which/

Also, judging by the name only (GIS), ReGIS is probably the ancestor of today's "GIS vector graphic", a standard supported by many programs and libraries.

[legacy]

For a similar project, I preferred ASCII-art. This can be compatible with VT100, which is fully documented and easy to be implemented 

p.s.
I have recently bought a DEC VT220, and it's damn relaxing when you want to use text tools and editors. Probably it's also a good interface for your project.

[mdijkens]

@ebclr:
Looking at it but don't see anything related to graphics via ansi commands?
Very Linux-oriented (no problem but not needed)
Support for graphical user interfaces but that is way beyond my interest 

@RoGeorge:
That seems to be a Linux program?

@legacy:
That would be my fallback scenario, but prefer some simple graphics feature