I am looking for a free, and possibly open source C compiler for PIC. I might go without C, but I would like to get both options.
There are various compilers out there, but since I have never done PIC development before, I am looking for user experience and advice. I am targetting the PIC16F88x family
I am mentioning the PIC C compilers here, which are best when it comes to PIC Microcontroller Programming.
You can read more about them on this post Top 3 PIC C Compiler, they have given a comparison between these 3 PIC Compilers i.e. there advantages and disadvantages.
I recently got started with PIC c programming, and had some success with the lite version (free, but not open-source) of the Hi-Tech C compiler. I was using the PIC16F690 so it should work well for you too.
You can download the compiler here:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en542849
Have you seen the sourceboost c compiler? This isn't open source but there is a free cost version details here. It seems to work very well.
You can try the CC5X C Compiler from http://www.bknd.com/cc5x/ it has an free edition too. There is the hi-tech c compiler lite from microchip available here
Try SDCC - an open source Small Device C Compiler
I used it for small project during school and it worked great.
http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/
Mikroelektronika has a series of compilers, including Pascal and C with very good libraries for most of the stuff you'll need, such as CompactFlash, USB, LCD and etc.
It's not free, but the free version has enough juice to allow you do to most of the basic stuff.