+/**
+ * Return val with bits first to last set to bit_val
+ */
+template <class T, class B>
+inline
+T
+insertBits(T val, int first, int last, B bit_val)
+{
+ T t_bit_val = bit_val;
+ T bmask = mask(first - last + 1) << last;
+ return ((t_bit_val << last) & bmask) | (val & ~bmask);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Overloaded for access to only one bit in value
+ */
+template <class T, class B>
+inline
+T
+insertBits(T val, int bit, B bit_val)
+{
+ return insertBits(val, bit, bit, bit_val);
+}
+
+/**
+ * A convenience function to replace bits first to last of val with bit_val
+ * in place.
+ */
+template <class T, class B>
+inline
+void
+replaceBits(T& val, int first, int last, B bit_val)
+{
+ val = insertBits(val, first, last, bit_val);
+}
+
+/** Overloaded function to allow to access only 1 bit*/
+template <class T, class B>
+inline
+void
+replaceBits(T& val, int bit, B bit_val)
+{
+ val = insertBits(val, bit, bit, bit_val);
+}
+/**
+ * Returns the bit position of the MSB that is set in the input
+ */
+inline
+int
+findMsbSet(uint64_t val) {
+ int msb = 0;
+ if (!val)
+ return 0;
+ if (bits(val, 63,32)) { msb += 32; val >>= 32; }
+ if (bits(val, 31,16)) { msb += 16; val >>= 16; }
+ if (bits(val, 15,8)) { msb += 8; val >>= 8; }
+ if (bits(val, 7,4)) { msb += 4; val >>= 4; }
+ if (bits(val, 3,2)) { msb += 2; val >>= 2; }
+ if (bits(val, 1,1)) { msb += 1; }
+ return msb;
+}
+