This document provides a standard for describing an ISP device chain, opening up the possibility for third-party companies to provide value-added ISP software. The purpose of the Chain Description File is to describe the configuration of a programming chain made up of devices that can be connected in some serial fashion. No assumptions are made about how data is used by the device, nor about the nature or configuration of the control signals that affect programming. It will support devices configured using electrically-erasable(EE), Flash, SRAM, or any other reconfigurable cell. For devices programmed via an IEEE programmable devices in the same chain.