There is also the matter of directly stuffing the sockaddr_in with calls like inet_addr(), which has long been considered inferior to alternatives using getaddr

There is also the matter of directly stuffing the sockaddr_in with calls like inet_addr(), which has long been considered inferior to alternatives using getaddressinfo(). This also has the side effect of this implementation not supporting IPv6, among others. So please, don't use this as anything other than an example how not to do sockets. If you want to learn how to do it right, I can recommend the excellent "Guide to Network Programming Using Internet Sockets" by Brian "Beej Jorgensen" Hall (You should definitely buy the printed version, just to support him :)).