C++ Environment needed on Solaris,Program lifecycle

Hello,

I would like to build some sample C++ application on Solaris SunOS 5.8 Generic Virtual sun4v sparc.
so I would like to know what are the compilation utilities and runtime utilities I need to get in my machine
and will any one explain me the detaied life cycle of program like

what is .so file and what does a .so file need in the OS or runtime utilities to accomplish its task.

Thanks in advance.
Revathi R.

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