LCD - How to create a simple serial LCD using a P

When I started playing around with PICs (some years back) I wanted to create a simple method of displaying debug data. While you're coding, using the PC is a very easy of doing this; but when you're done coding (or think you're done) sometimes you do not want to lug the PC around (and when I talked about PC, I really mean notebook - or better yet netbook). So long time back I looked at buying serial LCDs (e.g. scott edwards'), but couldn't justify spending the money when I could cob up something similar.

Truth be told, most of these ready-made serial LCDs have some great features which are worth the money. But if you're looking for something simple and have some spare parts; then you may want to do your own. At that point I created some nice routines and circuits for doing just this; most of this was done in CCS C and breadboards. Since then, I have grown tired of breadboarding (read, point-to-point wiring) all circuits and have taken to creating PCBs for simple circuit blocks and then breadboarding these together (when needed).

By now I have created quite a few PCBs, thanks to ExpressPCB and BatchPCB. I have posted a simple circuit and code which shows how to create your own serial LCD using a PIC, which can be found here.

I also attached pictures of the PCB and working LCD below. Note that what I present here is just a starting point, yet fully functional.