Bonjour Networking Help on iPhone WiTap sample

Question

I can follow most of Apple's WiTap sample, but am sort of stumped on this bit in the send method:

- (void) send:(const uint8_t)message
{
if (_outStream && [_outStream hasSpaceAvailable])
    if([_outStream write:(const uint8_t *)&message maxLength:sizeof(const uint8_t)] == -1)
        [self _showAlert:@"Failed sending data to peer"];
 }

 - (void) activateView:(TapView*)view
{
    NSLog(@"ACTIVATE TAG: %d", [view tag]); 
    //[self send:[view tag] | 0x80];
    [self send:[view tag]];
 }

 - (void) deactivateView:(TapView*)view
 {
    NSLog(@"DEACTIVATE TAG: %d", [view tag]); 
    //[self send:[view tag] & 0x7f];
    [self send:[view tag]];

 }

Note that I have changed the send: argument to just the tag of the views, which are numbered 1-9. Originally the code had the bitwise AND and OR adjustments.

WHY?

I get the fact that the send method needs a uint8_t, but is that why the bitwise stuff is there? To turn a NSInteger into a unint8_t?

The code doesn't work with my changes above. It will log fine and visually the client will function correctly, but the messages aren't being sent/received correctly from client to client.

Can someone explain in small words what the bitwise stuff is doing? Or am I correct?

Thanks! This is my first question to SO so please be kind.

---

thanks for the response. I am still puzzled a bit. Get it?

Basically, why?

Is this just a geeky way of passing an identifier? Each of those views have a tag #, why not just pass that, and toggle the state (up/down) from the view class?

Is this just a case of "this is how the person who wrote it did it", or am I missing a crucial piece of the puzzle in that this is how I should also be structuring my code.

I would just want to pass a tag # and then have that tag decide what to do in a clearly readable function like toggleUpOrDownState or something.

This bitwise stuff always makes me feel stupid I guess, unless it is necessary, etc. Then I feel stupid but manage to muddle through somehow anyway. : )

Answer 1

Basically, [view tag] | 0x80 is setting the high bit in that value (so 00010011 would become 10010011) and [view tag] & 0x7f is removing it (10010011 -> 00010011).

Take a look at the [AppController stream:handleEvent:] method. You'll see this code:

        //We received a remote tap update, forward it to the appropriate view
    if(b & 0x80)
        [(TapView*)[_window viewWithTag:b & 0x7f] touchDown:YES];
    else
        [(TapView*)[_window viewWithTag:b] touchUp:YES];

So, the receiver of the stream is checking for that high bit.