diff --git a/src/avrftdi.c b/src/avrftdi.c
index f0c07a6a..315f23e8 100644
--- a/src/avrftdi.c
+++ b/src/avrftdi.c
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ static int avrftdi_pin_setup(PROGRAMMER * pgm)
 static int avrftdi_open(PROGRAMMER * pgm, char *port)
 {
 	int vid, pid, interface, index, err;
-	char * serial, *desc;
+	const char *serial, *desc;
 	
 	avrftdi_t* pdata = to_pdata(pgm);
 
diff --git a/src/avrpart.c b/src/avrpart.c
index 4fc6304f..970dfde8 100644
--- a/src/avrpart.c
+++ b/src/avrpart.c
@@ -672,6 +672,7 @@ void avr_mem_display(const char * prefix, FILE * f, AVRMEM * m, AVRPART * p,
 AVRPART * avr_new_part(void)
 {
   AVRPART * p;
+  char *nulp = cache_string("");
 
   p = (AVRPART *)malloc(sizeof(AVRPART));
   if (p == NULL) {
@@ -686,8 +687,8 @@ AVRPART * avr_new_part(void)
   p->reset_disposition = RESET_DEDICATED;
   p->retry_pulse = PIN_AVR_SCK;
   p->flags = AVRPART_SERIALOK | AVRPART_PARALLELOK | AVRPART_ENABLEPAGEPROGRAMMING;
-  p->parent_id = NULL;
-  p->config_file = NULL;
+  p->parent_id = nulp;
+  p->config_file = nulp;
   p->lineno = 0;
   memset(p->signature, 0xFF, 3);
   p->ctl_stack_type = CTL_STACK_NONE;
diff --git a/src/config.h b/src/config.h
index a20af733..a7d2563d 100644
--- a/src/config.h
+++ b/src/config.h
@@ -101,8 +101,6 @@ void pyytext(void);
 
 char * dup_string(const char * str);
 
-char * cache_string(const char * file);
-
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/config_gram.y b/src/config_gram.y
index ce11b924..552832ec 100644
--- a/src/config_gram.y
+++ b/src/config_gram.y
@@ -532,8 +532,7 @@ prog_parm_conntype_id:
 prog_parm_usb:
   K_USBDEV TKN_EQUAL TKN_STRING {
     {
-      strncpy(current_prog->usbdev, $3->value.string, PGM_USBSTRINGLEN);
-      current_prog->usbdev[PGM_USBSTRINGLEN-1] = 0;
+      current_prog->usbdev = cache_string($3->value.string);
       free_token($3);
     }
   } |
@@ -546,22 +545,19 @@ prog_parm_usb:
   K_USBPID TKN_EQUAL usb_pid_list |
   K_USBSN TKN_EQUAL TKN_STRING {
     {
-      strncpy(current_prog->usbsn, $3->value.string, PGM_USBSTRINGLEN);
-      current_prog->usbsn[PGM_USBSTRINGLEN-1] = 0;
+      current_prog->usbsn = cache_string($3->value.string);
       free_token($3);
     }
   } |
   K_USBVENDOR TKN_EQUAL TKN_STRING {
     {
-      strncpy(current_prog->usbvendor, $3->value.string, PGM_USBSTRINGLEN);
-      current_prog->usbvendor[PGM_USBSTRINGLEN-1] = 0;
+      current_prog->usbvendor = cache_string($3->value.string);
       free_token($3);
     }
   } |
   K_USBPRODUCT TKN_EQUAL TKN_STRING {
     {
-      strncpy(current_prog->usbproduct, $3->value.string, PGM_USBSTRINGLEN);
-      current_prog->usbproduct[PGM_USBSTRINGLEN-1] = 0;
+      current_prog->usbproduct = cache_string($3->value.string);
       free_token($3);
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/developer_opts.c b/src/developer_opts.c
index f80f5537..8aea0bb2 100644
--- a/src/developer_opts.c
+++ b/src/developer_opts.c
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ static void dev_part_strct(AVRPART *p, bool tsv, AVRPART *base) {
     dev_info("#------------------------------------------------------------\n");
     dev_info("# %s\n", p->desc);
     dev_info("#------------------------------------------------------------\n");
-    if(p->parent_id)
+    if(p->parent_id && *p->parent_id)
       dev_info("\npart parent \"%s\"\n", p->parent_id);
     else
       dev_info("\npart\n");
@@ -597,9 +597,7 @@ static void dev_part_strct(AVRPART *p, bool tsv, AVRPART *base) {
 }
 
 
-
-
-// -p */[cdosw*]
+// -p */[dASsrcow*t]
 void dev_output_part_defs(char *partdesc) {
   bool cmdok, waits, opspi, descs, astrc, strct, cmpst, raw, all, tsv;
   char *flags;
@@ -693,7 +691,7 @@ void dev_output_part_defs(char *partdesc) {
       dev_part_strct(p, tsv,
         astrc? NULL:
         strct? nullpart:
-        p->parent_id? locate_part(part_list, p->parent_id): nullpart);
+        p->parent_id && *p->parent_id? locate_part(part_list, p->parent_id): nullpart);
 
     if(raw)
       dev_part_raw(p);
@@ -891,3 +889,119 @@ void dev_output_part_defs(char *partdesc) {
     }
   }
 }
+
+
+static void dev_pgm_raw(PROGRAMMER *pgm) {
+  PROGRAMMER dp;
+
+  memcpy(&dp, pgm, sizeof dp);
+  dev_raw_dump((unsigned char *) &dp, sizeof dp, pgm->desc, "pgm", 0);
+}
+
+
+static void dev_pgm_strct(PROGRAMMER *pgm, bool tsv, PROGRAMMER *base) {
+  if(!tsv) {
+    int firstid = 1;
+
+    dev_info("#------------------------------------------------------------\n");
+    dev_info("# ");
+    for(LNODEID ln=lfirst(pgm->id); ln; ln=lnext(ln)) {
+      if(!firstid)
+        dev_info("/");
+      firstid = 0;
+      dev_info("%s", ldata(ln));
+    }
+    dev_info("\n");
+    dev_info("#------------------------------------------------------------\n");
+    if(pgm->parent_id && *pgm->parent_id)
+      dev_info("\nprogrammer parent \"%s\"\n", pgm->parent_id);
+    else
+      dev_info("\nprogrammer\n");
+  }
+
+  if(!tsv)
+    dev_info(";\n");
+}
+
+
+// -c */[ASsrt]
+void dev_output_pgm_defs(char *pgmid) {
+  bool astrc, strct, cmpst, raw, tsv;
+  char *flags;
+  int nprinted;
+  PROGRAMMER *nullpgm = pgm_new();
+
+  if((flags = strchr(pgmid, '/')))
+    *flags++ = 0;
+
+  if(!flags && !strcmp(pgmid, "*")) // treat -c * as if it was -c */A
+    flags = "A";
+
+  if(!*flags || !strchr("ASsrt", *flags)) {
+    dev_info("%s: flags for developer option -c <wildcard>/<flags> not recognised\n", progname);
+    dev_info(
+      "Wildcard examples (these need protecting in the shell through quoting):\n"
+      "         * all known programmers\n"
+      "   avrftdi just this programmer\n"
+      "  jtag*pdi matches jtag2pdi, jtag3pdi, jtag3updi and jtag2updi\n"
+      "  jtag?pdi matches jtag2pdi and jtag3pdi\n"
+      "Flags (one or more of the characters below):\n"
+      "       A  show entries of avrdude.conf programmers with all values\n"
+      "       S  show entries of avrdude.conf programmers with necessary values\n"
+      "       s  show short entries of avrdude.conf programmers using parent\n"
+      "       r  show entries of avrdude.conf programmers as raw dump\n"
+      "       t  use tab separated values as much as possible\n"
+      "Examples:\n"
+      "  $ avrdude -c usbasp/s\n"
+      "  $ avrdude -c */st | grep baudrate\n"
+      "  $ avrdude -c */r | sort\n"
+      "Notes:\n"
+      "  -c * is the same as -c */A\n"
+      "  This help message is printed using any unrecognised flag, eg, -c/h\n"
+      "  Leaving no space after -c can be an OK substitute for quoting in shells\n"
+      "  /s, /S and /A outputs are designed to be used as input in avrdude.conf\n"
+      "  Sorted /r output should stay invariant when rearranging avrdude.conf\n"
+      "  These options are just to help development, so not further documented\n"
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // redirect stderr to stdout
+  fflush(stderr); fflush(stdout); dup2(1, 2);
+
+  astrc = !!strchr(flags, 'A');
+  strct = !!strchr(flags, 'S');
+  cmpst = !!strchr(flags, 's');
+  raw   = !!strchr(flags, 'r');
+  tsv   = !!strchr(flags, 't');
+
+  nprinted = dev_nprinted;
+
+  LNODEID ln1, ln2;
+  for(ln1=lfirst(programmers); ln1; ln1=lnext(ln1)) {
+    PROGRAMMER *pgm = ldata(ln1);
+    int matched = 0;
+    for(ln2=lfirst(pgm->id); ln2; ln2=lnext(ln2)) {
+      if(part_match(pgmid, ldata(ln2))) {
+        matched = 1;
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+    if(!matched)
+      continue;
+
+    if(dev_nprinted > nprinted) {
+      dev_info("\n");
+      nprinted = dev_nprinted;
+    }
+
+    if(astrc || strct || cmpst)
+      dev_pgm_strct(pgm, tsv,
+        astrc? NULL:
+        strct? nullpgm:
+        pgm->parent_id && *pgm->parent_id? locate_programmer(programmers, pgm->parent_id): nullpgm);
+
+    if(raw)
+      dev_pgm_raw(pgm);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/developer_opts.h b/src/developer_opts.h
index 6c4b3b71..2079c109 100644
--- a/src/developer_opts.h
+++ b/src/developer_opts.h
@@ -20,5 +20,6 @@
 #define developer_opts_h
 
 void dev_output_part_defs(char *partdesc);
+void dev_output_pgm_defs(char *programmer);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/ft245r.c b/src/ft245r.c
index 874167ac..04790143 100644
--- a/src/ft245r.c
+++ b/src/ft245r.c
@@ -851,7 +851,7 @@ static int ft245r_open(PROGRAMMER * pgm, char * port) {
       avrdude_message(MSG_NOTICE,
           "%s: ft245r_open(): no device identifier in portname, using default\n",
           progname);
-      pgm->usbsn[0] = 0;
+      pgm->usbsn = cache_string("");
       devnum = 0;
     } else {
       if (strlen(device) == 8 ){ // serial number
@@ -863,7 +863,7 @@ static int ft245r_open(PROGRAMMER * pgm, char * port) {
               device);
         }
         // copy serial number to pgm struct
-        strcpy(pgm->usbsn, device);
+        pgm->usbsn = cache_string(device);
         // and use first device with matching serial (should be unique)
         devnum = 0;
       }
diff --git a/src/libavrdude.h b/src/libavrdude.h
index 23905953..7dcab3c2 100644
--- a/src/libavrdude.h
+++ b/src/libavrdude.h
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ typedef struct opcode {
 typedef struct avrpart {
   char          desc[AVR_DESCLEN];  /* long part name */
   char          id[AVR_IDLEN];      /* short part name */
-  char        * parent_id;          /* parent id if set, for -p.../s */
+  const char  * parent_id;          /* parent id if set, for -p.../s */
   char          family_id[AVR_FAMILYIDLEN+1]; /* family id in the SIB (avr8x) */
   int           hvupdi_variant;     /* HV pulse on UPDI pin, no pin or RESET pin */
   int           stk500_devcode;     /* stk500 device code */
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ typedef struct avrpart {
 
   LISTID        mem;                /* avr memory definitions */
   LISTID        mem_alias;          /* memory alias definitions */
-  char          *config_file;       /* config file where defined */
+  const char  * config_file;        /* config file where defined */
   int           lineno;             /* config file line number */
 } AVRPART;
 
@@ -640,7 +640,6 @@ extern struct serial_device usbhid_serdev;
 #define PGM_DESCLEN 80
 #define PGM_PORTLEN PATH_MAX
 #define PGM_TYPELEN 32
-#define PGM_USBSTRINGLEN 256
 
 typedef enum {
   EXIT_VCC_UNSPEC,
@@ -672,7 +671,7 @@ typedef struct programmer_t {
   char desc[PGM_DESCLEN];
   char type[PGM_TYPELEN];
   char port[PGM_PORTLEN];
-  char *parent_id;
+  const char *parent_id;
   void (*initpgm)(struct programmer_t * pgm);
   unsigned int pinno[N_PINS];
   struct pindef_t pin[N_PINS];
@@ -685,8 +684,7 @@ typedef struct programmer_t {
   int baudrate;
   int usbvid;
   LISTID usbpid;
-  char usbdev[PGM_USBSTRINGLEN], usbsn[PGM_USBSTRINGLEN];
-  char usbvendor[PGM_USBSTRINGLEN], usbproduct[PGM_USBSTRINGLEN];
+  const char *usbdev, *usbsn, *usbvendor, *usbproduct;
   double bitclock;    /* JTAG ICE clock period in microseconds */
   int ispdelay;    /* ISP clock delay */
   union filedescriptor fd;
@@ -740,7 +738,7 @@ typedef struct programmer_t {
   int  (*parseextparams) (struct programmer_t * pgm, LISTID xparams);
   void (*setup)          (struct programmer_t * pgm);
   void (*teardown)       (struct programmer_t * pgm);
-  char *config_file;          /* config file where defined */
+  const char *config_file;    /* config file where defined */
   int  lineno;                /* config file line number */
   void *cookie;		      /* for private use by the programmer */
   char flag;		      /* for private use of the programmer */
@@ -989,6 +987,8 @@ void cleanup_config(void);
 
 int read_config(const char * file);
 
+char *cache_string(const char *file);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 9f72847f..83bde3e9 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -754,7 +754,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv [])
 
   avrdude_message(MSG_NOTICE, "\n");
 
-  // developer option -p <wildcard>/[*codws] prints various aspects of part descriptions and exits
+  // Developer option -p <wildcard>/[dASsrcow*t] prints part description(s) and exits
   if(partdesc && (strcmp(partdesc, "*") == 0 || strchr(partdesc, '/'))) {
     dev_output_part_defs(partdesc);
     exit(1);
@@ -770,6 +770,12 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv [])
     }
   }
 
+  // Developer option -c <wildcard>/[ASsrt] prints programmer description(s) and exits
+  if(programmer && (strcmp(programmer, "*") == 0 || strchr(programmer, '/'))) {
+    dev_output_pgm_defs(programmer);
+    exit(1);
+  }
+
   if (programmer) {
     if (strcmp(programmer, "?") == 0) {
       avrdude_message(MSG_INFO, "\n");
diff --git a/src/pgm.c b/src/pgm.c
index dd38552f..a4e0ed54 100644
--- a/src/pgm.c
+++ b/src/pgm.c
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ PROGRAMMER * pgm_new(void)
 {
   int i;
   PROGRAMMER * pgm;
+  char *nulp = cache_string("");
 
   pgm = (PROGRAMMER *)malloc(sizeof(*pgm));
   if (pgm == NULL) {
@@ -79,13 +80,18 @@ PROGRAMMER * pgm_new(void)
   pgm->usbpid = lcreat(NULL, 0);
   pgm->desc[0] = 0;
   pgm->type[0] = 0;
-  pgm->parent_id = NULL;
-  pgm->config_file = NULL;
+  pgm->parent_id = nulp;
+  pgm->config_file = nulp;
   pgm->lineno = 0;
   pgm->baudrate = 0;
   pgm->initpgm = NULL;
   pgm->hvupdi_support = lcreat(NULL, 0);
 
+  pgm->usbdev = nulp;
+  pgm->usbsn = nulp;
+  pgm->usbvendor = nulp;
+  pgm->usbproduct = nulp;
+
   for (i=0; i<N_PINS; i++) {
     pgm->pinno[i] = 0;
     pin_clear_all(&(pgm->pin[i]));
@@ -146,7 +152,7 @@ void pgm_free(PROGRAMMER * const p)
   ldestroy_cb(p->usbpid, free);
   p->id = NULL;
   p->usbpid = NULL;
-  /* do not free p->parent_id nor p->config_file */
+  /* do not free p->parent_id, p->config_file, p->usbdev, p->usbsn, p->usbvendor or p-> usbproduct */
   /* p->cookie is freed by pgm_teardown */
   free(p);
 }
diff --git a/src/ser_avrdoper.c b/src/ser_avrdoper.c
index a8414403..e459f921 100644
--- a/src/ser_avrdoper.c
+++ b/src/ser_avrdoper.c
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ static int              avrdoperRxPosition = 0; /* amount of bytes already consu
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ */
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ */
 
-static int usbOpenDevice(union filedescriptor *fdp, int vendor, char *vendorName,
-			 int product, char *productName, int doReportIDs)
+static int usbOpenDevice(union filedescriptor *fdp, int vendor, const char *vendorName,
+			 int product, const char *productName, int doReportIDs)
 {
     hid_device *dev;
 
diff --git a/src/usbasp.c b/src/usbasp.c
index 250c8a22..2b4c4831 100644
--- a/src/usbasp.c
+++ b/src/usbasp.c
@@ -160,9 +160,9 @@ static int usbasp_transmit(PROGRAMMER * pgm, unsigned char receive,
 			   unsigned char functionid, const unsigned char *send,
 			   unsigned char *buffer, int buffersize);
 #ifdef USE_LIBUSB_1_0
-static int usbOpenDevice(libusb_device_handle **device, int vendor, char *vendorName, int product, char *productName);
+static int usbOpenDevice(libusb_device_handle **device, int vendor, const char *vendorName, int product, const char *productName);
 #else
-static int usbOpenDevice(usb_dev_handle **device, int vendor, char *vendorName, int product, char *productName);
+static int usbOpenDevice(usb_dev_handle **device, int vendor, const char *vendorName, int product, const char *productName);
 #endif
 // interface - prog.
 static int usbasp_open(PROGRAMMER * pgm, char * port);
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ static int usbasp_transmit(PROGRAMMER * pgm,
  */
 #ifdef USE_LIBUSB_1_0
 static int usbOpenDevice(libusb_device_handle **device, int vendor,
-			 char *vendorName, int product, char *productName)
+			 const char *vendorName, int product, const char *productName)
 {
     libusb_device_handle *handle = NULL;
     int                  errorCode = USB_ERROR_NOTFOUND;
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ static int usbOpenDevice(libusb_device_handle **device, int vendor,
 }
 #else
 static int usbOpenDevice(usb_dev_handle **device, int vendor,
-			 char *vendorName, int product, char *productName)
+			 const char *vendorName, int product, const char *productName)
 {
 struct usb_bus       *bus;
 struct usb_device    *dev;