I would probably not be too difficult to output a PWM signal in relation to the RPM. All the hardware is still unused, all I use in the program is Timer1 and the GP2 interrupt.

You could also use the voltage reference output to put out a voltage in reference to the RPM (on GP1/pin 6). That's a fairly common technique. You can then read it with just a volt meter, or interface it with some other sort of readout.

In any case you'll save yourself a world of pain by just learning C. Assembly is terribly unpopular and just not that well suited for programming anything complex. C is every serious programmer's first language and everything after that is relatively easy. Learning assembly is kind of like learning how to hand stitch when you want to be a clothing designer. Sure, you need to know the basics of sewing, but in the real world most clothing is made with sewing machines. It's interesting to know the mechanics of how each kind of stitch is done step-by-step, but you could also just flip a switch on the machine and start learning how garments are made.

I just kind of find that assembly is tedious and non-portable, and it distracts from the big picture of the whole program. With today's optimizing compilers you'll usually end up spending twice as much time writing something in assembly, but unless you're very, very good the C compiler will usually produce better code in the end.

Check out...
http://www.gooligum.com.au/tut_midrange.html

These guys have excellent tutorials on PIC programming. They teach everything in assembly first, then they have the same lessons in C. For every example they compare the lines of code, size, and speed for assembly vs. C. I referred to these tutorials quite a bit when writing the CDI program.


-Jake