I'd like to use an integer column (16 bits will suffice) to hold a bit-field. I'd like to be able to efficiently count the number of bits set in this field.
Is there a built-in function call I can use? (I can't find one in the manual).
If not, can anyone recommend the most efficient way within postgres to implement the kind of bit-counting tricks found at:
http://gurmeetsingh.wordpress.com/2008/08/05/fast-bit-counting-routines/
http://graphics.stanford.edu/~seander/bithacks.html
Nathaniel