Multiple windows / Multiple programs

[LooseCaboose]

I can't just use threads because it it kind of like a cluster program, and the helper programs will be updated and deleted and new ones will be added.

The only reason you shouldn't be able to use threads are if the helper programs are running on different machines. You can easily manage dynamic creation/deletion of threads.

The program has to run under Linux so piping and CreateProcess is out.

CreateProcess is out. Pipes are definitely an option. However, if you are running multiple processes on different machines then you probably want to use sockets to communicate.