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.
![[prev]](../gif/left.gif){kind=small}
![[up]](../gif/up.gif){kind=small}
![[next]](../gif/right.gif){kind=small}