<networking, standard> (Winsock) A specification for Microsoft Windows network software, describing how applications can access network services, especially TCP/IP. Winsock is intended to provide a single API to which application developers should program and to which multiple network software vendors should conform. For any particular version of Microsoft Windows, it defines a binary interface (ABI) such that an application written to the Windows Sockets API can work with a conformant protocol implementation from any network software vendor. Winsock was conceived at Fall Interop '91 during a {Birds of a Feather} session. Windows Sockets is supported by Microsoft Windows, {Windows for Workgroups}, Win32s, Windows 95 and Windows NT. It will support protocols other than TCP/IP. Under {Windows NT}, Microsoft will provide Windows Sockets support over TCP/IP and IPX/SPX. DEC will be implementing DECNet. Windows NT will include mechanisms for multiple protocol support in Windows Sockets, both 32-bit and 16 bit. Mark Towfiq said, "The next rev. of Winsock will not be until toward the end of 1993. We need 1.1 of the API to become firmly settled and implemented first." {ms-windows/winsock">Windows Sockets API (ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/micro/pc-stuff/ms-windows/winsock)}. or winsock">ftp://microdyne.com/pub/winsock or send a message "help" to either <ftpmail@SunSite.UNC.Edu> or <ftpmail@DECWRL.DEC.Com>. Windows Sockets specification (ftp://rhino.microsoft.com). Currently NetManage (NEWT), Distinct, FTP and Frontier are shipping Winsock TCP/IP stacks, as is Microsoft (Windows NT and TCP/IP for WFW), Beame & Whiteside Software (v1.1 compliant), and Sun PC-NFS. Windows 95 has "dial-up networking" which supports Winsock and TCP/IP. winsock.dll is available from some TCP/IP stack vendors. Novell has one in beta for their Lan Workplace for DOS. Peter Tattam <peter@psychnet.psychol.utas.edu.au> is alpha-testing a shareware Windows Sockets compliant TCP/IP stack winsock/winsock.zip">ftp://ftp.utas.edu.au/pc/trumpet/winsock/winsock.zip. and winsock/winpkt.com">ftp://ftp.utas.edu.au/pc/trumpet/winsock/winpkt.com. {Windows socketsNeuroses/cwsapps.html">The Consummate Winsock App List (http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/Windows socketsNeuroses/cwsapps.html)}. [Adapted from: Aboba, Bernard D., comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc Frequently Asked Questions, 1993 Usenet: news:news.answers, ftp://netcom1.netcom.com/pub/mailcom/IBMTCP/]. [Current status?] (1996-06-20)

Windows sockets

In computing, the Windows Sockets API (WSA), later shortened to Winsock, is an application programming interface (API) that defines how Windows network application software should access network services, especially TCP/IP. It defines a standard interface between a Windows TCP/IP client application (such as an FTP client or a web browser) and the underlying TCP/IP protocol stack.

<operating system> See Microsoft Windows, Windows NT. (1997-11-23)

Microsoft Windows

<operating system> Microsoft's proprietary window system and user interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines available then. The 1996 market share of operating systems was: DOS/Windows 70% Windows 95 15% Windows NT 2% Other 13% [Current shares?] The version history goes something like: 1985 Windows 1, 1987 Windows 2, 1987 Windows/386, 1990 Windows 3.0, 1992 Windows 3.1, 1992 Windows for Workgroups 3.1, 1993 Windows 3.11, 1993 Windows for Workgroups 3.11, 1993 Windows NT 3.1, 1994 Windows NT 3.5, 1995 Windows 95, 199? Windows NT 4, 1998 Windows 98, ? Windows NT 5. Usenet newsgroups: news:comp.os.ms-windows.comp.os.ms-windows.advocacy, news:comp.os.ms-windows.comp.os.ms-windows.announce, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.comm, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.compatibility.win95, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.financial, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.misc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.utilities, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.utilities.win3x, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.utilities.win95, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.winsock.mail, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.winsock.misc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.winsock.news, news:comp.os.ms-windows.apps.word-proc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.misc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.networking.misc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.networking.ras, news:comp.os.ms-windows.networking.tcp-ip, news:comp.os.ms-windows.networking.win95, news:comp.os.ms-windows.networking.windows, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.admin.misc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.admin.networking, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.advocacy, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.announce, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.misc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.pre-release, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup.hardware, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup.misc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.software.backoffice, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.software.compatibility, news:comp.os.ms-windows.nt.software.services, news:comp.os.ms-windows.pre-release, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.controls, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.graphics, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.memory, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.misc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.multimedia, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.networks, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.nt.kernel-mode, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.ole, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools.mfc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools.misc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools.owl, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools.winsock, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.vxd, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.win32, news:comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.winhelp, news:comp.os.ms-windows.setup, news:comp.os.ms-windows.setup.win3x, news:comp.os.ms-windows.setup.win95, news:comp.os.ms-windows.video, news:comp.os.ms-windows.win95.misc, news:comp.os.ms-windows.win95.setup, news:comp.binaries.ms-windows. (1998-10-15)

Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps (formerly Windows Store apps and Metro-style apps) are applications that can be used across all compatible Microsoft Windows devices, including personal computers (PCs), tablets, smartphones, Xbox One, Microsoft HoloLens, and Internet of Things. These are primarily purchased and downloaded via the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft Mail

<operating system> (Windows ME) An update of Microsoft Windows 98, released in 2000. ME included updates of packaged software and new software such as {Windows Media Player} 7, Windows Movie Maker. It also has an updated user interface with new colours and icons, but few major changes. Windows ME was followed by Windows XP. (2003-05-13)

<operating system> The first incarnation of {Microsoft Windows}, released in 1985. It took a total of 55 programmer-years to develop, and only allowed tiled windows. (1996-07-08)