Quote Originally Posted by wysota View Post
Yes, you can compile it statically which makes your application really huge.
Also, you open yourself up to additional licensing issues when you create static builds. The GPL and many of it's variants consider your application to be derivative when statically linked, but not when it is linked dynamically. In general, when you statically link another library you are actively bundling and using it from a legal standpoint, and not simply taking advantage of an existing environment. You run a much higher risk of losing control over your own source code when you statically link, especially with large, complex external libraries whose dependencies may be difficult to discern.