I've finished both my C++ 1/2 classes and we did not cover anything on Linking to libraries or adding additional libraries to C++ code.

I've been having a hay-day trying to figure this out; I've been unable to find basic information linking to objects. Initially I thought the problem was the IDE (Netbeans; and Code::Blocks). However I've been unable to get wxWidgets and GTKMM setup.

Can someone point me in the right direction on the terminology and basic information about #including files and linking files in a Cpp application? Basically I want/need to know everything in regards to this process. The difference between .dll, .lib, .o, .lib.a, .dll.a. The difference between a .h and a "library" (.dll, .lib correct?)

I understand I need to read the compiler documentation I am using; however all compilers (that I know of) use linker and headers; I need to learn this information.

Please point me in the right direction! :]

So far on my quest I've found out:

• Linker links libraries already compiled to your project.
• .a files are static libraries (.lib in windows)
• .dll in windows is a shared library (.so in *nix)

Thanks