I enticed MikroBasic Pro to compile its 1st_project 'blink the LED's' Basic code . I then got PICKit2 to download the resulting .hex file.
It seems that I can get freeware compiler, but I will be asked to spend $50 each for PICkit2 hardware and software. That is not as bad as the big bucks for PICBASIC PRO restricted to one PC machine per the license.