See BootStrap regarding compilers written in themselves (but contrast with the non-synonym MetaCircularInterpreter), picking yourself up by your bootstraps, chicken-and-egg initialization, etc.
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A book about DougEngelbart and his BootstrapInstitute:

''BootStrapping '' by Thierry Bardini 

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0804738718.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

[ISBN 08 0473 8718] Gives the whole history of DougEngelbart's research on AugmentingHumanIntellect. 
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CategoryBook