In the process of implementing a new computer language, the point at
which the language is sufficiently effective that one can implement
the language in itself. That is, for a new language called,
hypothetically, FOOGOL, one has reached break-even when one can write
a demonstration compiler for FOOGOL in FOOGOL, discard the original
implementation language, and thereafter use working versions of
FOOGOL to develop newer ones. This is an important milestone; see
{MFTL}.
Since this entry was first written, several correspondents have
reported that there actually was a compiler for a tiny Algol-like
language called Foogol floating around on various {VAXen} in the
early and mid-1980s. A FOOGOL implementation is available at the
Retrocomputing Museum http://www.catb.org/retro/.