title: Is it worthwhile to use a bit vector/array rather than a simple array of bools?
body: <p>When I want an array of flags it has typically pained me to use an entire byte (or word) to store each one, as would be the result if I made an array of <code>bool</code>s or some other numeric type that could be set to 0 or 1. But now I wonder whether using a structure that is more space-efficient is worth it given the (albeit hopefully very slight) additional overhead of shifting and bit testing.</p>
  
  <p>In my company we use Rogue Wave tools (though hopefully not for much longer) and it's their <code>RWBitVec</code> that I've used for this purpose up until now.</p>