DLL? I know what it means, don't know what the point is
Ok so I know DLL is a dynamic link library. But what does THAT mean and why would I need/use it? What could I do with it? And is it written in the same C++ code I've been using? Thanks ahead of time! You guys have been a great help in my learning
It allows code to be compiled once and then used by many different programs at once, keeping individual exe sizes small by putting common code in a single separate file.
For example, when you use cout to output something to the screen, there's actually all sorts of other code that's run to make cout actually work. That code isn't only used by your program, it's used by every program that uses cout.
So instead of putting that code in every single exe that needs it, it's put once in a dll. Exes can then be built without it, and when they need to use it at runtime, they just link with the dll.
For example, when you use cout to output something to the screen, there's actually all sorts of other code that's run to make cout actually work. That code isn't only used by your program, it's used by every program that uses cout.
So instead of putting that code in every single exe that needs it, it's put once in a dll. Exes can then be built without it, and when they need to use it at runtime, they just link with the dll.
This MSKB article provides a quick overview of DLLs, including why they're useful, and a short example.
What is a DLL?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/815065
What is a DLL?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/815065
You would understand it ALOT better if you try and get something like SFML running.
where you will see your self compiling the libraries - adding them to be searched for and also adding the libraries into the linker - and then in order for your program to run it will need those .dll files (the ones that come with the library package) to run the program
Its pretty much the thing that is specific to the windows operating system
where you will see your self compiling the libraries - adding them to be searched for and also adding the libraries into the linker - and then in order for your program to run it will need those .dll files (the ones that come with the library package) to run the program
Its pretty much the thing that is specific to the windows operating system
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