[Mark McLeod]

To sort of condense things ...

Beginners need the following to program the FIRST robot:
v FRC RC Default Code
v Microchip MPLAB & C compiler
v IFI_Loader
v A standard serial cable
v A computer with a serial port or USB-to-serial converter

1. All default code, updates, documentation, and support information is available at the Innovation FIRST (IFI) website (http://innovationfirst.com/FIRSTRobotics/documentation.htm). The default code “FRC RC Default Code” comes ready for basic driving and with a variety of sample I/O usages. See especially the “FRC RC Default Code Reference Guide.”
2. MPLAB is the FIRST supplied Windows based development environment that runs on your desktop computer and is usually provided to each team on a compact disk in the Robovation kit. If you don't have the CD then MPLAB is free on-line at the Microchip website (http://www.microchip.com), but the C compiler is not free and is only available online as a trial copy. Manuals for using MPLAB come on the FIRST CD or can be picked up online.
3. IFI_Loader (from the IFI website above) is used to download the compiled code into the RC via a serial cable from your desktop or laptop computer.

The IFI website has all the documentation you need to get started.