> It not like windows has a /usr/local/lib directory to query for DLL and Lib files
There is apparently such a directory but it's hardly ever used by anyone.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side-by-side_assembly
> a universal package manager to manage installing development libraries and headers.
In the works too.. http://coapp.org/index.html
You are however correct that linux is much easier then windows in these respects. I much prefer it to windows, however if windows can get these things too I would be much happier about doing cross platform builds.