PicMicro
MicroChip Pic
ICs
What is a PIC chip? A PIC is an MCU [ micro controller unit ] made by MICROCHIP. It is as very low level microcontroller but is perfect for some appliactions. You can get very small ones with only 6 pins and tiny memory for doing simple routines and they cost only pence.
There are simply loads of differnet PIC chips avalible and they are all differnet. If you are a custom designer and actually know the differnce and don't need UART but do need 40mhz then you can be specific about what you need but if you dont' [like me] then its best to start with a 16Fxx or better still an 18Fx. The 18Fx series is 40mhz [thats fast]. The beauty of these are the are really cheap and easy to program. You can do stuff like simple LED flashing according to switches routines on one of the chips below and wire it straight in to your home made PCB. 
You can also use it to communicate with a computer either programs like
Processing, PD and Max/MSP [using the serial object], although this is
much trickier than using Arduino or Teleo and requires more time, you
will learn more and save some money.
Programming language
There are a couple of different languages to program the Micro Chip Pic including Java, C and various forms of Basic. If you are not used to any of these languages then PicBasic is a very good language to use.
PicBasic / PicBasic Pro
The language Is relatively easy to get to grips with as it is similar to Basic [an simple programming language].
You need a compiler to turn your custom written code into Hex though and the best one is amde by MicroEngineeringLabs or MElabs and is simply called PicBasic / Pro Compiler. It is small and relativly measy to come by. Then you can write your code in any text editor and use the command line commands to assemble and compile your code into Hex for your PIC. You then of course have to send that Hex to your chip via your programming device which can either be home made or commercially made.
The nicest way to write your PicBasic / Pro code is to use and IDE.
MicroCode Studio by Mecanique is an empty IDE front end that can be configured with a few different compile4rs and assemblers and works great with MElabs' PicBasic / Pro Compiler.
To setup your compiler and IDE follow the steps below.
- Place your PicBasic / Pro compiler folder some where on your hard drive [ root is good ].
- Download and install MicroCode Studio.
- In MicroCode Studio goto View > Compile and Program Options, and perform either a manual or automatic [easy] search for your compiler.
- If successful PicBasic / Pro should now be at the top of the Program title bar.
Download limited demo of PicBasic / PicBasic Pro compiler
http://www.melabs.com/products/pbp.htm
Download MicroCode Studio below - its free for home use
http://www.mecanique.co.uk/code-studio/
If you are using the newer 18Fxx series PICs the you'll need this additional assembly library
http://www.melabs.com/downloads/MPASM503.zip
MicroCode Studio looking for PicBasic Pro compiler
Programmers
To get your newly compiler code in HEX form onto your PIC chip you'll need a programmer. This is 1 part hardware and 1 part software and can be done easily and cheaply [ there are many many ways to do this with many hardware and software solution - this is only one way ]
WinPIC800 - is a free Pic programmer software through serial cable and you can download it form link below >
http://www.winpic800.com/descargas/WinPic800.zip
http://www.winpic800.com/
WinPic800 configured for the 18f452 to be programmed with a JDM Programmer on Com 1
Then you need the hardware which is a small circuit with a serial / usb adapter on one end and a chip slot for placing you PIC in such as the such as the 'Microchip PIC JDM Programmer' which you can buy from eBay for £10.
You can basically use any device that says it WinPIC800 compatible, such as the homemade ones on the page below - schematics and layouts downloadable.
http://www.coolcircuit.com/project/picprog/
MicroEngineeringLabs EPIC™ Plus Programmer Cost $99.00 but is completely native to MicroCode studio so you don't need to open another programmer program to use it. It does come with the necessary hardware and a standalone program to send your HEX to Chip. If you use MicroCode studio and come across one of these second hand then get it. link below - i think this option is far too expensive.
http://www.melabs.com/products/epic.htm
Other Links
Forum for programming PicBasic / Pro in MicroCode Studio - v handy >
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4
MicroChip's web community with loads of tutorials and code >
http://forum.microchip.com/
Examples and codes by MElabs
http://www.melabs.com/resources/samples.htm
PicMicro WebRing - community of programmers and info sites >
http://o.webring.com/hub?ring=picmicro
How to make your own Arduino out of a pic - PICduino !!
http://pure-data.cvs.sourceforge.net/pure-data/externals/hardware/arduino/PICduino/
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