[bootstrapping] What is bootstrapping?

The term "bootstrapping" usually applies to a situation where a system depends on itself to start, sort of a chicken and egg problem.

For instance:

  • How do you compile a C compiler written in C?
  • How do you start an OS initialization process if you don't have the OS running yet?
  • How do you start a distributed (peer-to-peer) system where the clients depend on their currently known peers to find out about new peers in the system?

In that case, bootstrapping refers to a way of breaking the circular dependency, usually with the help of an external entity, e.g.

  • You can use another C compiler to compile (bootstrap) your own compiler, and then you can use it to recompile itself
  • You use a separate piece of code that sets up the initial process without depending on any functions provided by the OS
  • You use a hard-coded list of initial peers or a hard-coded tracker URL that supplies the peer list

etc.