diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 9c1b9149f..d1f844435 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -279,8 +279,8 @@ add_library(libavrdude
 set_target_properties(libavrdude PROPERTIES
     PREFIX ""
     PUBLIC_HEADER "libavrdude.h;libavrdude-avrintel.h"
-    VERSION 1.0.0
-    SOVERSION 1
+    VERSION 2.0.0
+    SOVERSION 2
     )
 
 target_include_directories(libavrdude
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 1f063c9d3..f477ac419 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ libavrdude_a_SOURCES = \
 	xbee.h \
 	xbee.c
 libavrdude_la_SOURCES = $(libavrdude_a_SOURCES)
-libavrdude_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 1:0
+libavrdude_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 2:0
 
 include_HEADERS = libavrdude.h
 include_HEADERS += libavrdude-avrintel.h
diff --git a/src/arduino.c b/src/arduino.c
index 7c705da2a..ba4a40023 100644
--- a/src/arduino.c
+++ b/src/arduino.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ static int arduino_read_sig_bytes(const PROGRAMMER *pgm, const AVRPART *p, const
 
 static int arduino_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
   union pinfo pinfo;
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   pinfo.serialinfo.baud = pgm->baudrate? pgm->baudrate: 115200;
   pinfo.serialinfo.cflags = SERIAL_8N1;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
diff --git a/src/avr910.c b/src/avr910.c
index f7f5fb2b1..24a6a36ec 100644
--- a/src/avr910.c
+++ b/src/avr910.c
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ static int avr910_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
     pgm->baudrate = 19200;
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   pinfo.serialinfo.baud = pgm->baudrate;
   pinfo.serialinfo.cflags = SERIAL_8N1;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
diff --git a/src/buspirate.c b/src/buspirate.c
index 17089cac9..f4f1ec3fd 100644
--- a/src/buspirate.c
+++ b/src/buspirate.c
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ static int buspirate_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 
 	pinfo.serialinfo.baud = pgm->baudrate;
 	pinfo.serialinfo.cflags = SERIAL_8N1;
-	strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+	pgm->port = port;
 	if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
 		return -1;
 	}
diff --git a/src/butterfly.c b/src/butterfly.c
index 73acd329b..0dfbf403a 100644
--- a/src/butterfly.c
+++ b/src/butterfly.c
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ static void butterfly_enable(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const AVRPART *p) {
 
 static int butterfly_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
   union pinfo pinfo;
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   /*
    *  If baudrate was not specified use 19200 Baud
    */
diff --git a/src/developer_opts.c b/src/developer_opts.c
index 2a42df36e..07ebe76ae 100644
--- a/src/developer_opts.c
+++ b/src/developer_opts.c
@@ -1201,11 +1201,9 @@ static void dev_pgm_raw(const PROGRAMMER *pgm) {
   if(dp.usbproduct && *dp.usbproduct)
     dev_raw_dump(dp.usbproduct, strlen(dp.usbproduct)+1, id, "usbprod", 0);
 
-  // Zap all bytes beyond terminating nul of desc, type and port array
+  // Zap all bytes beyond terminating nul of type array
   if((len = (int) strlen(dp.type)+1) < (int) sizeof dp.type)
     memset(dp.type + len, 0, sizeof dp.type - len);
-  if((len = (int) strlen(dp.port)+1) < (int) sizeof dp.port)
-    memset(dp.port + len, 0, sizeof dp.port - len);
 
   // Zap address values
   dp.desc = NULL;
@@ -1219,6 +1217,7 @@ static void dev_pgm_raw(const PROGRAMMER *pgm) {
   dp.usbvendor = NULL;
   dp.usbproduct = NULL;
   dp.hvupdi_support = NULL;
+  dp.port = NULL;
 
   // Only dump contents of PROGRAMMER struct up to and excluding the fd component
   dev_raw_dump((char *) &dp, offsetof(PROGRAMMER, fd), id, "pgm", 0);
diff --git a/src/ft245r.c b/src/ft245r.c
index f885bb887..9684161ae 100644
--- a/src/ft245r.c
+++ b/src/ft245r.c
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ static int ft245r_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
         return rv;
     }
 
-    strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+    pgm->port = port;
 
     // read device string cut after 8 chars (max. length of serial number)
     if ((sscanf(port, "usb:%8s", device) != 1)) {
diff --git a/src/jtag3.c b/src/jtag3.c
index f5fdd2a88..2522f076b 100644
--- a/src/jtag3.c
+++ b/src/jtag3.c
@@ -1708,7 +1708,7 @@ int jtag3_open_common(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port, int mode_switch) {
     pgm->fd.usb.wep = USBDEV_BULK_EP_WRITE_3;
     pgm->fd.usb.eep = 0;
 
-    strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+    pgm->port = port;
     rv = serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd);
   }
   if (rv < 0) {
@@ -1723,7 +1723,7 @@ int jtag3_open_common(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port, int mode_switch) {
       pgm->fd.usb.wep = USBDEV_BULK_EP_WRITE_3;
       pgm->fd.usb.eep = USBDEV_EVT_EP_READ_3;
 
-      strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+      pgm->port = port;
       rv = serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd);
     }
 #endif    /* HAVE_LIBUSB */
diff --git a/src/jtagmkI.c b/src/jtagmkI.c
index 513019319..c85e8024d 100644
--- a/src/jtagmkI.c
+++ b/src/jtagmkI.c
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ static int jtagmkI_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port)
 
   pmsg_notice2("jtagmkI_open()\n");
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   PDATA(pgm)->initial_baudrate = -1L;
 
   for (i = 0; i < sizeof(baudtab) / sizeof(baudtab[0]); i++) {
diff --git a/src/jtagmkII.c b/src/jtagmkII.c
index 4ace06597..c470be265 100644
--- a/src/jtagmkII.c
+++ b/src/jtagmkII.c
@@ -1457,7 +1457,7 @@ static int jtagmkII_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
@@ -1509,7 +1509,7 @@ static int jtagmkII_open_dw(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
@@ -1561,7 +1561,7 @@ static int jtagmkII_open_pdi(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
@@ -1620,7 +1620,7 @@ static int jtagmkII_dragon_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
@@ -1673,7 +1673,7 @@ static int jtagmkII_dragon_open_dw(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
@@ -1726,7 +1726,7 @@ static int jtagmkII_dragon_open_pdi(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
@@ -3231,7 +3231,7 @@ static int jtagmkII_open32(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
diff --git a/src/libavrdude.h b/src/libavrdude.h
index 1675b7668..7c485b0bf 100644
--- a/src/libavrdude.h
+++ b/src/libavrdude.h
@@ -35,6 +35,19 @@
 #include "libavrdude-avrintel.h"
 #undef  LIBAVRDUDE_INCLUDE_INTERNAL_HEADERS
 
+/*
+ * The libavrdude library contains useful functions for programming
+ * Microchip's 8-bit AVR microprocessors. The command line program avrdude
+ * was written using this library; its source code is a good example of how
+ * to use the library. Out of necessity libavrdude routinely changes
+ * PROGRAMMER, AVRPART and other structures to keep up with new programmers
+ * and with new parts and programming interfaces from Microchip. Any
+ * application that uses this library should ensure that it links to a
+ * libavrdude binary that is compatible with this header file, ideally the
+ * version that was shipped together with this header file or one that was
+ * compiled from source together with the application.
+ */
+
 typedef uint32_t pinmask_t;
 /*
  * Values returned by library functions.
@@ -872,7 +885,6 @@ typedef struct {                // Memory cache for a subset of cached pages
 #define OFF                  0 // Many contexts: reset, power, LEDs, ...
 #define ON                   1 // Many contexts
 
-#define PGM_PORTLEN PATH_MAX
 #define PGM_TYPELEN 32
 
 typedef enum {
@@ -951,7 +963,7 @@ typedef struct programmer_t {
   // Values below are not set by config_gram.y; ensure fd is first for dev_pgm_raw()
   union filedescriptor fd;
   char type[PGM_TYPELEN];
-  char port[PGM_PORTLEN];
+  const char *port;
   unsigned int pinno[N_PINS];   // TODO to be removed if old pin data no longer needed
   exit_vcc_t exit_vcc;          // Should these be set in avrdude.conf?
   exit_reset_t exit_reset;
diff --git a/src/linuxspi.c b/src/linuxspi.c
index 82ce35ec2..3d73172b3 100644
--- a/src/linuxspi.c
+++ b/src/linuxspi.c
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ static int linuxspi_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *pt) {
         }
     }
 
-    strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+    pgm->port = port;
     fd_spidev = open(pgm->port, O_RDWR);
     if (fd_spidev < 0) {
         pmsg_ext_error("unable to open the spidev device %s: %s\n", pgm->port, strerror(errno));
diff --git a/src/serialadapter.c b/src/serialadapter.c
index 9f785458e..d1a93c1f6 100644
--- a/src/serialadapter.c
+++ b/src/serialadapter.c
@@ -57,12 +57,14 @@ static int sa_snmatch(const char *sn, const char *q) {
   return sn && (str_starts(sn, q) || (str_starts(q , "...") && str_ends(sn, q+3)));
 }
 
+#define null_len(s) ((s)? strlen(s): 0)
+
 // Order two SERPORTs port strings: base first then trailing numbers, if any
 static int sa_portcmp(const void *p, const void *q) {
   int ret;
   const char *a = ((SERPORT *) p)->port, *b = ((SERPORT *) q)->port;
   const char *na = str_endnumber(a), *nb = str_endnumber(b);
-  size_t la = strlen(a) - (na? strlen(na): 0), lb = strlen(b) - (nb? strlen(nb): 0);
+  size_t la = null_len(a) - null_len(na), lb = null_len(b) - null_len(nb);
 
   // Compare string bases first
   if(la && lb && (ret = strncasecmp(a, b, la < lb? la: lb)))
diff --git a/src/serialupdi.c b/src/serialupdi.c
index b1f2a9ad0..5b072ac11 100644
--- a/src/serialupdi.c
+++ b/src/serialupdi.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ static void serialupdi_teardown(PROGRAMMER * pgm)
 }
 
 static int serialupdi_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   return updi_link_open(pgm);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/stk500.c b/src/stk500.c
index 7f804ef8a..87c139d94 100644
--- a/src/stk500.c
+++ b/src/stk500.c
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ static void stk500_enable(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const AVRPART *p) {
 
 static int stk500_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
   union pinfo pinfo;
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   pinfo.serialinfo.baud = pgm->baudrate? pgm->baudrate: 115200;
   pinfo.serialinfo.cflags = SERIAL_8N1;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
diff --git a/src/stk500v2.c b/src/stk500v2.c
index 20a0c633e..1b381aa20 100644
--- a/src/stk500v2.c
+++ b/src/stk500v2.c
@@ -2207,7 +2207,7 @@ static int stk500v2_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
@@ -2270,7 +2270,7 @@ static int stk600_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
@@ -4049,7 +4049,7 @@ static int stk500v2_jtagmkII_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
@@ -4159,7 +4159,7 @@ static int stk500v2_dragon_isp_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
@@ -4235,7 +4235,7 @@ static int stk500v2_dragon_hv_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
 #endif
   }
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   if (serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd)==-1) {
     return -1;
   }
diff --git a/src/strutil.c b/src/strutil.c
index de3df8fb7..560605566 100644
--- a/src/strutil.c
+++ b/src/strutil.c
@@ -384,6 +384,9 @@ char *str_utoa(unsigned n, char *buf, int base) {
 char *str_endnumber(const char *str) {
   const char *ret = NULL;
 
+  if(!str)
+    return NULL;
+
   for(const char *end = str + strlen(str)-1; end >= str; end--)
     if(isdigit((unsigned char) *end))
       ret = end;
diff --git a/src/urclock.c b/src/urclock.c
index 12927b8db..3ae60a077 100644
--- a/src/urclock.c
+++ b/src/urclock.c
@@ -2228,7 +2228,7 @@ static void urclock_disable(const PROGRAMMER *pgm) {
 static int urclock_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
   union pinfo pinfo;
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   pinfo.serialinfo.baud = pgm->baudrate? pgm->baudrate: 115200;
   pinfo.serialinfo.cflags = SERIAL_8N1;
   if(serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd) == -1)
diff --git a/src/wiring.c b/src/wiring.c
index 61cd9f37c..6ac9751a2 100644
--- a/src/wiring.c
+++ b/src/wiring.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ static int wiring_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
   int timetosnooze;
   union pinfo pinfo;
 
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   pinfo.serialinfo.baud = pgm->baudrate ? pgm->baudrate: 115200;
   pinfo.serialinfo.cflags = SERIAL_8N1;
   serial_open(port, pinfo, &pgm->fd);
diff --git a/src/xbee.c b/src/xbee.c
index 52b3c5df9..af36611ae 100644
--- a/src/xbee.c
+++ b/src/xbee.c
@@ -1555,7 +1555,7 @@ static int xbee_getsync(const PROGRAMMER *pgm) {
 
 static int xbee_open(PROGRAMMER *pgm, const char *port) {
   union pinfo pinfo;
-  strcpy(pgm->port, port);
+  pgm->port = port;
   pinfo.serialinfo.baud = pgm->baudrate;
   pinfo.serialinfo.cflags = SERIAL_8N1;