What is Bootstraping?

swinchen · 05-01-2004, 10:11 PM

What exactly is bootstraped, or bootstraping?

I have heard it usually in reference to libc, and GCC. Usually a bootstraped GCC.

Thanks,

Sam

chriscoelphoto · 05-01-2004, 11:44 PM

heres a somewhat vauge definition:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootstrapping

slakmagik · 05-02-2004, 12:06 AM

Here's another: http://lfs.crash404.com/lfs/view/tes...gcc-pass1.html

Basically giving it a shove so that it can compile itself.

As far as glibc ( http://lfs.crash404.com/lfs/view/tes...r05/glibc.html ) and so on, it's more a case of building a self-contained toolchain - http://lfs.crash404.com/lfs/view/tes...kingglibc.html

There may be other references and meanings (definitely in the case of booting an OS), but I suppose that's what the stuff you're talking about is referring to.

blendmaster · 05-02-2004, 09:28 AM

Boot strapping comes comes from the philosophy of puling yourself up by your own bootstraps. In computer terms when booting, it is the process of the computer starting itself.