some definitions...

[inkedmn]

could somebody tell me the difference between libraries and modules?

[mrBen]

AFAIK libraries are just that - libraries of software functions that can be used by other programs. For instance, the OpenGL libraries have functions for doing fancy 3D stuff, without having to know how it actually works.

Modules, on the otherhand, tend to be kernel type software that are loaded into the kernel - you can either have them configured into your kernel or loaded dynamically when you need them. Device drivers and the like.

HTH

[optech]

well, with programming languages, modules tend to add more functionality to a language.

for example, with perl, if i wanted to do graphical UIs then i could add the Tk module, and use it's functions to create a GUI...

libraries add more complex functions most of the time, but that's not the difference.

[Strike]

It seems to me that the end result of what they do is essentially the same - extend functionality of something (in these cases, a programming language). It seems to me that the manner in which they are done is what sets them apart. Modules seem to be done for interpreted languages whereas libraries are for compiled languages (in general). Kernel modules aren't language modules, so that doesn't apply here.

I think it's just language specific how they are referred to. But there is also probably a more specific, more precise reason out there somewhere (no doubt one of the programming gurus here knows the answer).