bootstrapping

To help (oneself) without the aid of others.

“Sam spent years bootstrapping himself through college.”

To load the operating system into the memory of a computer. Usually shortened to boot.

To compile the tools that will be used to compile the rest of the system or program.

“Bootstrapping means building the GNU C Library, GNU Compiler Collection and several other key system programs.http//www.gentoo.org/doc/en/handbook/handbook-x86.xml?part=1&chap=6”

To employ a bootstrap method.

To expand or advance an activity or a collection based solely on previous actions, work, findings, etc.

The process by which something is bootstrapped.