On: Popcount CPU instruction (2019)

[angiosperm]

Popcount eventually gets added to every architecture that lacks it, always at great expense. You would think people would have learned by now.

And, no, not typically just because the spooks want it.

[NotYourLawyer → angiosperm]

Why, then?

[angiosperm → NotYourLawyer]

Because there are numerous order-of-magnitude optimizations it enables, that are useful far beyond cryptanalysis. People mention spooks because the spooks have often had access to enough money to force the issue.