[SLUG] understanding .so files

[Ken Foskey <waratah@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I have a problem with the STLport gcc library.  the program that uses is
asks for it's .so file. I tried to change ld.so.conf in /etc but it did
not appear to do anything, (no man page just a guess).  I ended up
putting a symbolic link into /usr/lib.

Can someone describe how these work.  Is it a program problem or a
system configuration.

Thanks
KenF