Dynamic and Static Libraries in C++

Question

In my quest to learn C++, I have come across dynamic and static libraries.

I generally get the gist of them: compiled code to include into other programs.

Howeve

Answer 1

Is writing them any different than a normal C++ program, minus the main() function?

No.

How does the compiled program get to be a library? It's obviously not an executable, so how do I turn, say 'test.cpp' into 'test.dll'?

Pass the -dynamiclib flag when you're compiling. (The name of the result is still by default a.out. On Mac OS X you should name your dynamic libraries as lib***.dylib, and on Linux, lib***.so (shared objects))

Once I get it to its format, how do I include it in another program?

First, make a header file so the the other program can #include to know what functions can be used in your dylib.

Second, link to your dylib. If your dylib is named as libblah.dylib, you pass the -lblah flag to gcc.

Is there a standard place to put them, so that whatever compilers/linkers need them can find them easily?

/usr/lib or /usr/local/lib.

What is the difference (technically and practically) between a dynamic and static library?

Basically, for a static lib, the whole library is embedded into the file it "links" to.

How would I use third party libraries in my code (I'm staring at .dylib and .a files for the MySql C++ Connector)

See the 3rd answer.