To get from a high level program to a low level one we use the computer. A special computer program, called a compiler takes the high level expression of the action and converts it into the sequence of low level steps which do the job.

Compilers have to be specially written for the target system. The MPLAB XC8 compiler is special in that it runs on the PC but it does not produce code for the PC. Such a compiler is often called a cross compiler.

In the case of the C sheep counter above I used MPLAB to generate the PICmicro microcontroller instructions that we used to increment the sheep counter register.

The MPLAB XC8 compiler is accessed through MPLAB X IDE which you will use to actually write and assemble the programs.