Bit Bashing: N. (alt. `bit Diddling' Or {bit Twiddling}) Term Used To Describe Any Of Several Kinds Of Low-level Programming Characterized By Manipulation Of {bit}

Bit Bashing: N. (alt. `bit Diddling' Or {bit Twiddling}) Term Used To Describe Any Of Several Kinds Of Low-level Programming Characterized By Manipulation Of {bit}

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:bit bashing: n. (alt. `bit diddling' or {bit twiddling}) Term
used to describe any of several kinds of low-level programming
characterized by manipulation of {bit}, {flag}, {nybble},
and other smaller-than-character-sized pieces of data; these
include low-level device control, encryption algorithms, checksum
and error-correcting codes, hash functions, some flavors of
graphics programming (see {bitblt}), and assembler/compiler code
generation. May connote either tedium or a real technical
challenge (more usually the former). "The command decoding for
the new tape driver looks pretty solid but the bit-bashing for the
control registers still has bugs." See also {bit bang},
{mode bit}.
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary

Related:

bit bashing: n. (alt. `bit diddling' or {bit twiddling}) Term used to describe any of several kinds of low-level programming characterized by manipulation of {bit}
{flag}, {nybble}, and other smaller-than-character-sized pieces of data...
bare metal n. 1. [common] New computer hardware, unadorned with such snares and delusions as an operating system, an bit bashing needed to create these basic tools for a new machine.
Real bare-metal programming involves things like building boot proms and BIOS chips, implementing basic monitors used to test device drivers, and writing the assemblers that will be used to write the compiler back ends that will give the new machine a real development environment....
bit twiddling: n. 1. (pejorative) An exercise in tuning (see {tune}) in which incredible amounts of time and effort go to produce little noticeable improveme
often with the result that the code becomes incomprehensible....
widdle: n. 1. Tilde (ASCII 1111110, `~'). Also called `squiggle', `sqiggle' (sic --- pronounced /skig'l/), and `twaddle', but twiddle is the most common term.
2. A small and insignificant change to a program....
flag: n. A variable or quantity that can take on one of two value
a bit, particularly one that is used to indicate one of two outcomes or is used to control which of two things is to be done....
bit twiddling n. [very common] 1. (pejorative) An exercise in tuning (see tune) in which incredible amounts of time and effort go to produce little noticeable improveme
often with the result that the code becomes incomprehensible....
high bit: [from `high-order bit'] n. 1. The most significant bit in a byte.
2. By extension, the most significant part of something other than a data byte...
bit-paired keyboard n.,obs. (alt. `bit-shift keyboard') A non-standard keyboard layout that seems to have originated with the Teletype ASR-33 and remained common for several years on early computer equipment.
The ASR-33 was a mechanical device (see EOU), so the only way to generate the character codes from keystrokes was by some physical linkage....
flag n. [very common] A variable or quantity that can take on one of two value
a bit, particularly one that is used to indicate one of two outcomes or is used to control which of two things is to be done....