This page contains some code examples using Microchip C and Mplab assembler. My first introduction to assembler was back when the Sinclair ZX80 was released, and considering the limitations on available memory at the time there was some amazing coding done by enthusiasts around the world. With FLASH memory becoming the norm, code turnaround and of course development cycles began getting shorter and hobbyist interest in this sort of technology began to flare. GUI (graphical user interface) technology and huge leaps in the performance of PC's (personal computers) meant that a lot of the mumbo jumbo associated with using programmable logic rather than logic gates was effectively removed and electronic enthusiasts around the world began to see that there far better options than using a 555 timer chip or 7474 flip flop (yes, you could use a few nand gates or something similar)

Microchip has a good offering of free development platforms for their range of micros and for a few dollars most enthusiasts can quickly hack together something to program a PIC in an hour or so. There is a huge range of open source code available and no end of "Hello world" code and projects to get the newcomer effectively on their way.