Related:

• 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....
• profile: n. 1. A control file for a program, esp. a text file automatically read from each user's home directory and intended to be easily modified by the user in order to customize the program's behavior.
  Used to avoid {hardcoded} choices (see also {dot file}, {rc file})....
• oaster: n. 1. The archetypal really stupid application for an embedded microprocessor controlle
  often used in comments that imply that a scheme is inappropriate technology (but see {elevator controller})....
• 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...
• 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....
• 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....
• profile n. 1. A control file for a program, esp.
  a text file automatically read from each user's home directory and intended to be easily modified by the user in order to customize the program's behavior....
• bit bashing n. (alt. `bit diddling' or bit twiddling) Term used to describe any of several kinds of low- programming characterized by manipulation of bi
  flag, nybble, and other smaller-than-character-sized pieces of data...
• overflow bit: n. 1. [techspeak] A {flag} on some processors indicating an attempt to calculate a result too large for a register to hold.
  2. More generally, an indication of any kind of capacity overload condition....