Techniques for implementing a publish-subscribe messaging system are disclosed. An example device generates a topic string comprising a string of characters that represent a subscription to a requested publication. A subscription filter is computed based on the topic string. The device is configured to receive a publication, which includes a data payload and a publication filter. The device performs a bitwise comparison of the subscription filter and the publication filter to determine whether the publication is a destination match for the subscription. If the publication is a destination match for the subscription, the device consumes the data payload of the publication.