Bootloader

Briefly, a bootloader is the first software program that runs when a computer starts. It is responsible for loading and transferring control to the operating system kernel software (such as the Hurd or the Linux). The kernel, in turn, initializes the rest of the operating system (e.g. GNU).

List of bootloaders
A lot more exhaustive list is available at Wikipedia

List of legacy boot loaders
Please don't pick any of these for new designs!


 * rrload (RidgeRun, used for older TI OMAP boards)
 * pmon (used for Linux MIPS, including BroadCom wifi router boards like Linksys)