[zeromq-dev] What is the difference between libzmq.dll and libzmq.lib under windows?

[Seref Arikan]

Greetings,
I've kept the subject a little bit vague, since the question would
probably make a very long subject line.

Under Windows xp sp3, using VS.NET 2010 Express version, I am
compiling libzmq.dll. However, doing this also produces libzmq.lib
Libzmq.lib is the only lib file created when I compile the DLL, and it
is only 7 kb in size. The dll itself is 169 KB.

I am using the lib file in an Eiffel project, and I'm also using
Protocol buffers. This is a complicated setup, and the only
configuration that is working OK for me is when I use the lib file
created as a by product of the DLL compilation.
This is making me nervous, since the DLL has 169 kb size and the lib
has only 7 kb. What is the content of the dll, other than the contents
of the lib file?

If I compile a static lib for libzmq, by selecting the output format
as static lib (.lib file) I get a lib file with almost 22 mb of size!
(which again does not work in my setup)

So what am I leaving out when I use the lib file from the dll compilation setup?