What does bootstrap mean in an angular js tutorial?

Question

The tutorial keeps referencing the term bootstrapping but when I search the term I see a link to a framework by twitter. Are they talking about something specific like this or something more general?

Answer 1

In a very simple term you can understand it as initializing, or starting, your Angular app.

The wiki says

In general parlance, bootstrapping usually refers to the starting of a self-sustaining process that is supposed to proceed without external input. In computer technology the term (usually shortened to booting) usually refers to the process of loading the basic software into the memory of a computer after power-on or general reset, especially the operating system which will then take care of loading other software as needed. ........

"A different use of the term bootstrapping is to use a compiler to compile itself, by first writing a small part of a compiler of a new programming language in an existing language to compile more programs of the new compiler written in the new language."

The below image from the Bootstrap docs of AngularJS will make it clear.

Answer 2

It is a general term. This is a top definition see the following

A technique of loading a program into a computer by means of a few initial instructions that enable the introduction of the rest of the program from an input device.

In short its a way to start by loading the outline of a set of a program and it will then pull in the other dependencies to get you started with that program/framework (in your case an angularjs project).

And no i looked at the google documentation (unless your looking at codeschool and they dont seem to be referring to twitters bootstrap at all).

This question seems to discuss it in thorough detail the definition stems from "pulling one up by their bootstraps"