[linux-dvb] dvb-apps lib, structs declared with bit fields

[oivindg at gmail.com (Oivind)]

I notice that bit fields are used in many of the structs, as for
example from en50221_hlci.h;

struct en50221_pmt_object {
        unsigned ca_pmt_tag: 24;
        uint8_t *asn_1_length;
        unsigned ca_pmt_list_mgmt: 8;
        unsigned program_number: 16;
        unsigned reserved_1: 2;

        [...]

};


What exactly is the benefit of this? 

Bit fields generate a lot of cpu overhead for the shifting etc needed,
inserted by the compiler, and todays hardware will most likely have
the memory required for normal declarations.


Oivind