1. What is the purpose of using a DLL over a .lib or just a single .exe?
2. What exactly (in VC++) does __declspec(dllimport) and __declspec(dllexport) do and where would you use them?
3. What is the correct way of using and linking DLLs?
4. How do you export things like template classes?
5. How do I setup VC++ to copy the generated DLL to a different location?
Any help would be appreciated.
1. What is the purpose of using a DLL over a .lib or just a single .exe?
Smaller executable size, smaller memory footprint, and easier update deployment of the library code (eg. the executable need not be recompiled).
2. What exactly (in VC++) does __declspec(dllimport) and __declspec(dllexport) do and where would you use them?
They tell the compiler to place names in the import and export sections of the DLL, respectively. It's like marking names as public for a DLL, which makes them visible to calling code.
3. What is the correct way of using and linking DLLs?
This is a documentation question (assuming you use Visual Studio).
4. How do you export things like template classes?
You don't. :)
5. How do I setup VC++ to copy the generated DLL to a different location?
You mean like an installer? Otherwise, just manually move the generated DLL to wherever you want.
Thankyou for your answers :)
I mean like a post-build action which moves the dll from the VC++ project file to a different location, because I don't want to have to manually move it every time I compile.
We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.