A programming environment and a simple programming language that runs on Ethernet block-input/output (block-IO) devices and hosting servers. In some embodiments, the ARGEE™ system includes a web-based programming environment that compiles a GUI program into a bytecode program of a virtual machine; and the virtual machine that runs in the device firmware and executes the bytecode program representing the GUI program created by a user. There are many programming languages that provide a web-based programming environment. Some such languages apply to embedded devices. However, the ARGEE™ system, considered as a whole, is unique in that the programming environment is not hosted on the same embedded device it controls. The system reduces the FLASH-memory requirements of the device by hosting the environment on an external server. The system also facilitates a faster update cycle of the environment software, making it easier to distribute changes to customers when environment changes.