first steps

yo! ..
i'm new 2 c++ as obvious ))
i'm quite experienced with PHP so i can understand stuff | i even own a book on C++ and ordered that 21 day Sam | but still i'd like to ask some basic (maybe dumn) questions .. if U don't mind ..

step 0: get bloodshed's dev-c++ free compiler .. thankx for the tip - done ))

lesson 1: THE LIBRARIES
WHAT I NOTICED: i'd like to go like with PHP-s online manual, if i have a question i go there read the manual and that's it ..
I noticed that it's much harder with C++ .. the best place i found so far is : http://www.cplusplus.com/ref/
it seemes to me that functions are linked to libraries .. and i see that there are lot's of libraries around

My QUESTIONs: who makes libraries? how? are they written in C++ or Delphi? What are libraries indeed?
How does a porgrammer relate to libraries .. when U set out to make an app U go out shopping for libraries? Or ?

That's about it for today, Thanx 2 anyone who replies ..!
peter

We had an interesting discussion about this a few weeks ago. http://forums.devshed.com/t49606/s.html