Before you get too excited about writing a Windows Sockets application, it's probably a good idea to get your hands on the specification itself. The current version of the specification is 1.1 and it is distributed electronically on the Internet and CompuServe®. If you're not able to obtain the specification electronically, ask a Windows Sockets vendor—they are generally willing to provide you with a copy on disk.
The most recent versions of the specification are available via anonymous FTPon rhino.microsoft.com or sunsite.unc.edu (in the directory /pub/micro/pc-stuff/ms-windows/winsock). On CompuServe, check the Microsoft Software Library forum (go msl). A variety of different formats are readily available: .doc (Microsoft Word), .wri (Microsoft Windows Write), .ps (PostScript), .txt (ASCII text), or .rtf (Rich Text Format). In addition to the specification, you will also find Joel Goldberger's extremely useful Windows Sockets online help file (winsock.hlp), sample applications and other nifty stuff.
Note For developers familiar with the 1.0 specification, the Microsoft Word and PostScript versions of the 1.1 specification offer "change-bars" in the left-hand margin to denote changes made to the 1.0 specification.