Many programming languages are available for the PIC18F series of micro-controllers.  Many excellent ones are available for free or at low cost.  Some options are listed below.


Swordfish is a structured BASIC for the PIC 18F series that is very similar in layout to Microsoft Visual Basic, and is my preferred programming language. 

Swordfish Special Edition is a free version limited to several hundred lines of code which is enough for some surprisingly complex programs.

There is a great deal of user-support for Swordfish and an active forum.

Swordfish Website

Amicus Compiler

The free Amicus Compiler is the full version of the Protron Basic Compiler, but limited to use on the PIC18F25K20 micro-controller.  This combination is extremely powerful and can handle complex tasks.

The Amicus system also includes hardware to support many Arduino-compatible shields - the TAP-28 does not support the use of these shields but is a low-cost way of using the Amicus Compiler.

The 18F25K20 is an extremely capable chip, but it's a 3.3V part which may complicate using it.

Amicus Website

Proton Development Suite 

The Proton Development Suite is a Basic compiler for the PIC10/12/16/18 series of microcontrollers by Microchip^TM, written and distributed by Crownhill Associates Ltd.   Proton is a very powerful Basic compiler.  A version supporting only the 18F25K20 is available above.

Proton Website