Self-modifying code (Doesn't PICO do this?)

[Skip Tavakkolian]

In March/April 1987 issue of AT&T TECHNICAL JOURNAL (volume 66, issue 2) there
is an article about ``PICO - A PICTURE EDITOR'' by Gerard J. Holzmann. Its
description of PICO is ``an interactive editor for digitized graphic images''.
The interesting point about the VAX-750 version of this editor is that
it ``contains an optimizing compiler that translates the expressions
"on-the-fly" (interactively) into efficient code for the VAX-750 computer''.
Author acknowledged Ken Thompson as the person who wrote the ``on-the-fly''
optimizing compiler.  Is this considered self-modifying?  If so, could
one of the elders (a term of endearment) please shed light on this subject?

Sincerely
-- 
Fariborz ``Skip'' Tavakkolian

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