from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
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 {mode bit}.
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
bit bashing
bit diddling
(Also "bit diddling" or {bit twiddling}). Any of several
kinds of low-level programming characterised by manipulation
of {bit}, {flag}, {nibble}, 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 flavours 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}.