PHP 4.0.4pl1 configure/build questions

1) I have now been adding functions to an extension initiated by ext_skel for a couple of days and familiarized myself with the source code layout and build architecture. It appears everything is controlled by the ../php4/configure file which appears to be edited directly by ext_skel when it is run. Is this correct? 2) In regard to self-contained extensions, what does PHPIZE do? 3) The document README.SELF-CONTAINED-EXTENSIONS, it looks like an "embedded" extension is one that is in the ../php4/ext/.. subdirectory tree while a self contained extension is in a directory outside the normal location. Is this correct? OR, is a self contained extension one that requires dlopen(" ") to gain access to the functions? 4) If a shared library is added into the PHP.INI file, does that mean it is loaded on startup the apache server/libphp4.so and stays loaded. Meaning that the library is loaded just one time instead of being reloaded for each script that calls dlopen(" ") ? Thanks for any reply, Mark Diener