Windows API Guide: Final Update | Windows API Guide - Reference - Volume 1: Version 3.0 For the MS-DOS and PC-DOS Operating Systems

When I initially created the Windows API Guide web site a few years ago, I had no idea what it would eventually become. Originally, the entire "site" (it started just as a reference file on my hard drive) was contained entirely in a single HTML file. I used it to put summaries of the few API functions I had learned how to use, since I always had trouble finding good information about them on the Internet.

As time went on, the site practically exploded. I soon decided to split the reference up into pages for each letter of the alphabet and hosted it on my 2 MB of space on (ugh) AOL's servers. After getting fed up with their "service", I moved the site to Fortunecity's hosting service. Around this time -- the details are sketchy -- I gave each entry in the guide its own separate page, and it took the form it has to this day. Early last January, VB-World.net gratiously offered me space on their servers, which I accepted. Over the course of these couple of years the number of visitors to this site has increased seemingly exponentially, to the point where most days I get at least a dozen e-mails regarding some aspect of the site.

But alas, all good things must come to an end. I am unfortunately no longer able to continue maintaining this web site. I typically do not even have enough free time to simply answer my e-mails, let alone add new content to the site. A host of other demands in my life have pulled away the time I used to have to work on this site. After reflecting on my situation and trying to find a way to manage my time, I came to the inescapable conclusion that I can no longer continue working on this site. There are simply too many other demands on me, and I see no other way around this.

So, this message will almost certainly be the last update I make to this site. I also can no longer answer any e-mails I receive, although I will respond to the messages I have received before putting this message up. I wish it didn't have to come to this, but I see no other choice.

You're probably wondering what will happen to this site as a result. To be honest, I cannot be sure. For the short-term future, the site will continue being hosted at its current location (vbapi.com). Beyond that, I cannot be certain. It's possible that VB-World.net may take over the site, in whatever capacity that may be. It's also possible that they may no longer find it possible to host it on their servers, and it will be taken down indefinitely, and perhaps for good. Those are the two most likely scenarios I see. It's extremely unlikely that I will resume working on the site, so it's fruitless to e-mail me to ask me to do this or to reconsider my decision.

Naturally, I am concerned about my site's future as well. I've invested countless hours to its maintanence and growth, and I certainly don't want to see all my hard work and effort gone to waste if the site disappears completely. As a result, I am providing a zip file that has the entire contents of the site as it exists right now. Please feel free to download this, although I ask that you not redistribute it unless this site does indeed disappear permanently. This way, my hard work will not be lost forever in the event that a worst-case scenario becomes true. If some other party does take over operation of this site, such a zip file will probably not be offered, so take advantage of the opportunity now.

You may download a zipped copy of the state of the Windows API Guide as I leave it here. Again, please do not redistribute this file unless this site disappears from the Internet. You may use it for your own personal use, however.

I would like to thank VB-World.net for having provided me with hosting on their servers for the past year. They've generally been very helpful and responsive to the requests I've made of them. But of course I must thank you, the regular visitors to my site, without whom the Windows API Guide would never have achieved the size and popularity it has today. I'm glad what started out as a simple, unassuming little project of mine has been able to help countless thousands of people worldwide.

I hope that the work I've invested in this site will continue to be a great source of programming information for you even though I can no longer maintain it.

Update (March 8, 2001)

The folks at VB-World.net have assured me that they'll continue to host this site for the forseeable future. So thankfully, none of us will have to worry about it disappearing from the Internet anytime soon. Don't worry, though, since the zip file of the site will still be available for anyone who wants it, according to the terms mentioned above.

Finally, thanks to everyone who's e-mailed me thanking me for providing this site. It's great to know my work here certainly hasn't gone unappreciated, and hopefully despite my absence you'll still find lots of information here that can help you.

Last Modified: March 8, 2001
This page is copyright © 2001 Paul Kuliniewicz. Copyright Information Revised October 29, 2000
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