1. A method of decoding a representation of a target codeword that encodes K information bits as N codeword bits, wherein N and K are numerical integer values and K is less than N, the method comprising: (a) importing the representation of the codeword from a channel; (b) in a plurality of decoding iterations, updating estimates of the codeword bits by steps including, in a graph that includes N bit nodes and N−K check nodes, exchanging decoding messages between the bit nodes and the check nodes; and (c) in each of at least one of the decoding iterations, modifying, using at least one processor, at least a portion of decoding values selected from the group consisting of respective decoding bit node values associated with the bit nodes, respective decoding check node values associated with the check nodes, and the decoding messages, wherein the modifying depends explicitly on an ordinality of the each decoding iteration, and wherein the modifying is independent of decoding iterations other than the each decoding iteration.