I am new to all of this:
I have triple checked my wiring to the PIC<16F1827> and LCD as follows:

PIC LCD
RB0 = D4
RB1 = D5
RB2 = D6
RB3 = D7
RB4 = RS
RB5 = E
The R/W is tied to ground. VCC = +5 volts.
I have tried just about every sample program I could find on this forum and they will either not compile (Pic Basic Pro) or I could not figure out the correct ports to change around to match my configuration. I am using a PICKIT3 to program with and it does see and properly identify my chip.
Would be wonderful if someone could point me at some proper sample code to just initialize the LCD.... let alone make it say hello.
I have not done any PIC programming, and haven't done much basic programming since the days of my Atari 800. Most of the compile errors I was receiving were stating that "Program" was expected. Newbie error I guess.
Some one please re-aim my compass