[dcb]

I've found python to be easier for text-stuff, but there are a number of cross platform and packaging issues with python last I looked. Java is much farther along as a cross platform environment, and most of the techie bits about how to talk to the controller over the serial port and make pretty pictures is sorted.

I like python plenty, but this might not be the best fit due to the cross platform need and the graphics and low-level serial IO "requirements". Jython might be a reasonable compromise, but still needs some java bits to take care of business.