The programmer described here reads and writes to the Xilinx family of serial PROMs. The PC software is written in Turbo Pascal and the programmer plugs into a free printer (Centronics) port.When it comes to PROM burning tools the most common model available is the universal type of PROM programmer. These are capable of handling the majority of chips currently on the market. The cost of such a burner is relatively high so the average electronics enthusiast has a hard job justifying his/her purchase especially if the programmer will only be used occasionally. If you do manage to scrape the funds to buy a programmer, regular software updates are fairly painless but it can be frustrating to find that a whole new model of programmer is introduced shortly after you make your purchase.