** (UN)FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ** 1. Why do you have to specify PREFIX= even when building when overriding the default ? 2. When overriding the default prefix, how do you compile and link my program ? -- 1. Why do you have to specify PREFIX= even when building, when overriding the default ? Because it allows easier linking. The way the Linux link loader works, if the library name has a slash in it, then it resolves it that way. If it doesn't it goes through a series of steps which tries to find it. However, without updating a certain file it won't find it under '/usr/local' (and similar with '/tmp'). Therefore, as long as you have the same PREFIX= (or don't specify it at all), all you need to do to link to the shared version is link to it (and any other dependencies; -lpthread comes to mind here). For example the link options might be : -langelscript_s -lpthread -- 2. When overriding the default prefix, how do you compile and link my program ? An example scenario is the following : You installed into /opt which means the following files should exist : /opt/include/angelscript.h /opt/lib/libangelscript.so (which is a symbolic link to the current version installed) /opt/lib/libangelscript.a (the static library). If you #include angelscript.h you might normally have : #include However, when that file is not in the standard directories the compiler searches, you have to either use : #include "/opt/include/angelscript.h" (method one) or alternatively keep the include (using the angle brackets) but pass the include path (or paths actually but in this case path) to the compiler so it knows to search an additional location. If you're using g++ then the following option will work (it also works for gcc but I am assuming you are using C++) : -I/opt/include You must however still link. You therefore must pass another option to the compiler (which will pass it to the linker) and the option os -L which is used like so (to follow the scenario) : -L/opt/lib The rest is the same. CONTACT INFO: If you have any questions or concerns, by all means have Andreas contact me (at this time I don't have an email I feel okay sharing - if it seems this is of use to others I will likely create an email on my server for this very purpose). For now Andreas can forward the message to me.