(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 {mode
bit}.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {bare metal}{bit twiddling}]