> I need some code or a algorithm for generating a 8 bit random number on
> a PIC.  Does anyone have any code or an algorithm to accomplish this?

Random (actually pseudo-random!) numbers are useually generated by
a shift register with XOR feedback. You can vary the length of the
SR to get a suitable cyclus length.

The jal compiler has a such a reandom library which is so small that
I've attched it below. You should be able to translate this into assembler
(in fact is it almost assembler). I deleted the copyright notice, but it
is covered by the GNU LGPL so unless you want to sell a library based
upon it you can use it freely. When you are too lazy to translate
the code below into assembler you could download the jal compiler
and let it do the job. (www.xs4all.nl/~wf/wouter/pic/jal)

regards,
Wouter.

var byte _random_b1
var byte _random_b2
var byte _random_b3

-- make sure there is at least one bit set!
asm bsf _random_b1, 0

procedure _random_shift is
   -- from the art of electronics, p657:
   -- 24 bits LFSR needs xor feedback from taps at 17, 22 and 23
   assembler
      movlw 0
      btfsc _random_b3, 1
        xorlw 0xFF
      btfsc _random_b3, 6
        xorlw 0xFF
      btfsc _random_b3, 7
        xorlw 0xFF
      addlw 1
      rlf _random_b1, f
      rlf _random_b2, f
      rlf _random_b3, f
   end assembler
end procedure

var bit  _random_bit   at _random_b1 : 0
var byte _random_byte  at _random_b1

procedure randomize( byte in n = 0 ) is
   _random_b1 = n
   _random_b2 = 1
   _random_b3 = 0
   for 24 loop
      _random_shift
   end loop
end procedure

function random_bit return bit is
   _random_shift
   return _random_bit
end function

function random_byte return byte is
   for 8 loop
      _random_shift
   end loop
   return _random_byte
end function