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.
A book about DougEngelbart and his BootstrapInstitute:
BootStrapping by Thierry Bardini
ISBN: 08 0473 8718 Gives the whole history of DougEngelbart's research on AugmentingHumanIntellect.