Program hardware without Printer Port

Question

My motherboard is small and don't have a printer port, all the tutorials (program LEDs, motor etc.) of hardware programming tell the use of this port or a USB to printer port converter to program hardware. Is there any other way and any other port (for example USB) to program hardware?

Answer 1

I suggest to buy Arduino which can easily be connected to USB and use it's outputs as parallel port. Why parallel port is popular when working hardware? Because it can be easily controlled programmatically. With USB you can't just set certain bits. Bu Arduino comes with build-in USB support on one side and easily programmable output on another. Plus it is cool device by itself.

Answer 2

That depends on the hardware. If your hardware has a printer port (or parallel port, more specifically), you will need that one. If your hardware has a serial port (COM) which is quote common too, you need one of those. Some hardware will need the game/midi port that you used to plug in your joystick on your old 386 PC. I think convertors are available to convert USB to each of those ports.