An optical transceiver (or transmitter or receiver) that uses microcode and an internal sensor to self-calibrate itself to an environmental parameter such as, for example, temperature. In particular, the optical transceiver senses the environmental parameter under changing environmental circumstances. The optical transceiver then calculates how an operational parameter such as laser bias current should change based on the sensing operation. The optical transceiver then persistently records an approximation of the relation between the environmental parameter and the operational parameter. This approximation may later be used during operation to adjust the operational parameter as appropriate given then-existing environmental circumstances.