Linking *.lib files with MinGW

mingw also accepts libraries with a .lib extension.

For instance, a library named libsample.lib must be linked as

-L -llibsample

Reference: http://www.mingw.org/wiki/Specify_the_libraries_for_the_linker_to_use

New mingw versions support linking lib files. But I faced issues where .lib is with prefix libxxxx.lib.It ommits the preffix lib in linking. So make it like lib<name>.lib

Also there are ways to convert a .lib to .a ex: lib2a You can use that as well.

Probably not. mingw's static library format is *.a.

Dynamic libraries for a given platform are standardized by the OS loader that must be able to load them.

Static libraries only have to be understood by the toolchain's linker, and are thus less cross compiler compatible. Afaik *.lib files are not even compatible across all MSVC versions.

Added later due to pestering comments: Newer versions of mingw also support .lib files, but you asked your question back in '11, and then you probably wouldn't have them then.