   When use dll's?
  Simple question: when use .lib, when .dll?   
  It's a simple question, but it doesn't have a simple answer. It depends on what the library is for, who is creating it an why, how it is intended to be used, et cetera. The best general answer is "use the right tool for the job at hand."   ;  Although as a beginner asking a question like that, the answer is ".lib"DLL's do have many advantages over compiled-in lib files, but I highly doubt you'll need any of them right now, and DLL management does have overhead and a pita factor.(eg Patching certain functionality without the user needing a complete reinstall, loading different versions of the samely named functions to do outputs in different formats, writing plug-in AI or exporter's for other peoples tools, etc)   