A programmable lighting driver (120, 200), comprising: a power stage (128, 228) configured to receive power from an external supply and to supply power to at least one light source; a controller (126, 226) configured to control an operation of the power stage according to at least one of an operating parameter and a configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver; a nonvolatile memory (124, 225) configured to store operating parameters and configuration settings for the programmable lighting driver; and a near field communication device (121, 124, 221, 222, 224) configured to receive radio frequency signals which are adapted to communicate operating parameters and configuration settings for the programmable lighting driver and in operation said near field communication device is configured to receive a radio frequency signal which communicates the at least one of an operating parameter and a configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver, and in response thereto to store the at least one of an operating parameter and a configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver in the nonvolatile memory, wherein the near field communication device is configured to generate from the RF signal a supply voltage for powering the nonvolatile memory while the near field communication device stores in the nonvolatile memory the at least one of an operating parameter and a configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver wherein the at least one configuration setting identifies an active dimming interface for the programmable lighting driver among a plurality of dimming interfaces available for the programmable lighting driver, and wherein the at least one operating parameter for the programmable lighting driver includes at least one of: an output current to be supplied by the power stage to the at least one light source; a variable startup time parameter for the at least one light source; an operating time period after which the lighting driver should increase the output current; at least one temperature threshold for reducing the output current; an operating time period after which the lighting driver should trigger an end of life signal; and at least one time setting for automatically dimming the at least one light source. a power stage (128, 228) configured to receive power from an external supply and to supply power to at least one light source; a controller (126, 226) configured to control an operation of the power stage according to at least one of an operating parameter and a configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver; a nonvolatile memory (124, 225) configured to store operating parameters and configuration settings for the programmable lighting driver; and a near field communication device (121, 124, 221, 222, 224) configured to receive radio frequency signals which are adapted to communicate operating parameters and configuration settings for the programmable lighting driver and in operation said near field communication device is configured to receive a radio frequency signal which communicates the at least one of an operating parameter and a configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver, and in response thereto to store the at least one of an operating parameter and a configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver in the nonvolatile memory, wherein the near field communication device is configured to generate from the RF signal a supply voltage for powering the nonvolatile memory while the near field communication device stores in the nonvolatile memory the at least one of an operating parameter and a configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver wherein the at least one configuration setting identifies an active dimming interface for the programmable lighting driver among a plurality of dimming interfaces available for the programmable lighting driver, and wherein the at least one operating parameter for the programmable lighting driver includes at least one of: an output current to be supplied by the power stage to the at least one light source; a variable startup time parameter for the at least one light source; an operating time period after which the lighting driver should increase the output current; at least one temperature threshold for reducing the output current; an operating time period after which the lighting driver should trigger an end of life signal; and at least one time setting for automatically dimming the at least one light source.