2 definitions
for bootstrap
From WordNet (r) 2.0 :
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) :
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)
