Bootstrap

2 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  bootstrap
       n : a strap that is looped and sewn to the top of a boot for
           pulling it on
       v : help oneself, often through improvised means

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:



  bootstrap
       
          1.  (From "to pull oneself up by one's
          bootstraps") To load and initialise the {operating system} on
          a computer.  Normally abbreviated to "{boot}".
       
          See {bootstrap loader}.
       
          2.  (From "to pull oneself up by one's bootstraps")
          to use a {compiler} to compile itself.
       
          The usual process is to write an {interpreter} for a language,
          L, in an existing language, M.  The compiler is then written
          in L and the interpreter is used to run it.  This produces an
          {executable} for compiling programs in L from the source of
          the compiler in L.
       
          This technique is often used to verify the correctness of a
          compiler.  It was first used in the {LISP} community.
       
          See also {my favourite toy language}.
       
          (27 November 1995)