gistfile1.diff

diff --git a/src/common/bit_field.h b/src/common/bit_field.h
index 8eab054..ac8fb9c 100644
--- a/src/common/bit_field.h
+++ b/src/common/bit_field.h
@@ -110,9 +110,11 @@
  * symptoms.
  */
 #pragma pack(1)
-template<std::size_t position, std::size_t bits, typename T>
+template<std::size_t position, std::size_t bits, typename T, typename Rep>
 struct BitField
 {
+    static_assert(sizeof(Rep) * CHAR_BITS > bits, "Can't hold the bits");
+
 private:
     // This constructor might be considered ambiguous:
     // Would it initialize the storage or just the bitfield?
@@ -151,6 +153,11 @@ public:
         return Value();
     }
 
+    __forceinline operator Rep() const
+    {
+        return static_cast<Rep>(Value());
+    }
+
     __forceinline void Assign(const T& value) {
         storage = (storage & ~GetMask()) | (((StorageType)value << position) & GetMask());
     }