title: Installing C++ Libraries on OS X
body: <p>I am trying to get my head around some basic concepts, but I can't seem to figure them out. </p>
  
  <p>I am really confused over what it means to install (I think they are called libraries) for C++. I am trying to install OpenCV, but I don't know what needs to happen for it to be installed, how to check, or what really OpenCV is (Is it a library, framework, something else?).</p>
  
  <p>My understanding is that OpenCV (and other libraries/frameworks) is distributed as only the source code so that is is able to work cross-platform. Then, after you download it, you have to build it (I don't know what build means though), and then link your compiler against it so that it can access the files? I don't know how any of this would be done, or really what this means. I think a lot of this is done by CMake, but I don't know what CMake really does, how you would use it, or how you would then utilize the library/framework in your code. Also, where would the libraries like OpenCV be installed, how would clang (or any other compiler/linker) know where to find them, and what kind of files would they be (.a, .dylib, .cpp, .hpp, executables, or a collection of everything)? Is this structure specific to C++ and OS X or is it more widespread?</p>
  
  <p>I am not looking for a tutorial on how to install OpenCV or other libraries, but I am instead trying to learn how that actually works so I won't need tutorials in the future.</p>