Microsoft promises end to 'DLL hell'
C|Net | at | by Mike
Windows Server 2003 will bring an end to one of the biggest bugbears for Windows users and administrators, according to Microsoft. The problem, which relates to Dynamic Link Libraries, has become an increasing headache over the years. The Redmond, Wash.-based software company is hoping to end what has become known as "DLL Hell" by building into Windows Server 2003 a system to solve an incompatibility problem with Dynamic Link Libraries, which are software module that can be shared by several different applications.
Problems typically occur when an application is installed that uses an updated version of a DLL. If that particular DLL-- is already being used by another application, and if the original application cannot work with the updated DLL, then the user gets an error message.