diff --git a/.github/workflows/cross_ci.yml b/.github/workflows/cross_ci.yml
index b38f9e5614b52b..e804b9949355f7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cross_ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cross_ci.yml
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: v_win.c can be compiled and run with -os windows
         run: |
           ./v -cc msvc -os windows -o /tmp/v_win.c cmd/v
-          x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc /tmp/v_win.c -std=c99 -w -municode -o v_from_vc.exe
+          x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc /tmp/v_win.c -std=c99 -w -municode -o v_from_vc.exe -lws2_32
           ls -lart v_from_vc.exe
           wine64 ./v_from_vc.exe version
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows_ci.yml b/.github/workflows/windows_ci.yml
index 6804d974aadb04..55a4cb8e571fef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows_ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows_ci.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test new v.c
         run: |
           .\v.exe -o v.c cmd/v
-          gcc -Werror -municode -w v.c
+          gcc -Werror -municode -w v.c -lws2_32
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           .\v.exe setup-freetype
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test new v.c
         run: |
           .\v.exe -o v.c cmd/v
-          .\thirdparty\tcc\tcc.exe -Werror -w -ladvapi32 -bt10 v.c
+          .\thirdparty\tcc\tcc.exe -Werror -w -ladvapi32 -lws2_32 -bt10 v.c
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           .\v.exe setup-freetype
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ jobs:
       #     .\v.exe wipe-cache
       #     .\make.bat -tcc32
       # - name: Test new v.c
-      #   run: .\v.exe -o v.c cmd/v && .\thirdparty\tcc\tcc.exe -Werror -g -w -ladvapi32 -bt10 v.c
+      #   run: .\v.exe -o v.c cmd/v && .\thirdparty\tcc\tcc.exe -Werror -g -w -ladvapi32 -lws2_32 -bt10 v.c
       # - name: v doctor
       #   run: ./v doctor
       #
diff --git a/Dockerfile.cross b/Dockerfile.cross
index a50476c8f20c39..556b47a33bd8e4 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.cross
+++ b/Dockerfile.cross
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ LABEL maintainer="Delyan Angelov <delian66@gmail.com>"
 COPY . .
 RUN make
 RUN ./v -os windows -o v.c cmd/v
-RUN x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc v.c -std=c99 -w -municode -o v.exe
+RUN x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc v.c -std=c99 -w -municode -o v.exe -lws2_32
 RUN file v.exe
 
 CMD [ "bash" ]
diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index 29c2f0fa94b1c2..6aa30af35350f9 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ endif
 
 all: latest_vc latest_tcc latest_legacy
 ifdef WIN32
-	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -std=c99 -municode -w -o v1.exe $(VC)/$(VCFILE) $(LDFLAGS)
+	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -std=c99 -municode -w -o v1.exe $(VC)/$(VCFILE) $(LDFLAGS) -lws2_32
 	v1.exe -no-parallel -o v2.exe $(VFLAGS) cmd/v
 	v2.exe -o $(VEXE) $(VFLAGS) cmd/v
 	del v1.exe
diff --git a/cmd/tools/modules/vgit/vgit.v b/cmd/tools/modules/vgit/vgit.v
index 420caa8f056ac9..e0e662f06c69dc 100644
--- a/cmd/tools/modules/vgit/vgit.v
+++ b/cmd/tools/modules/vgit/vgit.v
@@ -198,6 +198,10 @@ pub fn (mut vgit_context VGitContext) compile_oldv_if_needed() {
 			// after 53ffee1 2020-05-18, gcc builds on windows do need `-municode`
 			c_flags += '-municode'
 		}
+		// after 2023-11-07, windows builds need linking to ws2_32:
+		if vgit_context.commit_v__ts >= 1699341818 && !vgit_context.cc.contains('msvc') {
+			c_flags += '-lws2_32'
+		}
 		command_for_building_v_from_c_source = '${vgit_context.cc} ${c_flags} -o cv.exe  "${vc_source_file_location}" ${c_ldflags}'
 		command_for_selfbuilding = '.\\cv.exe -o ${vgit_context.vexename} {SOURCE}'
 	} else {
diff --git a/examples/process/process_stdin_trick.v b/examples/process/process_stdin_trick.v
deleted file mode 100644
index b5476c82fccfa4..00000000000000
--- a/examples/process/process_stdin_trick.v
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-module main
-
-import os
-
-// this is a example script to show you stdin can be used and keep a process open
-
-fn exec(cmd string) (string, int) {
-	mut cmd2 := cmd
-	mut out := ''
-	mut line := ''
-	mut rc := 0
-	mut p := os.new_process('/bin/bash')
-
-	// there are methods missing to know if stderr/stdout has data as such its better to redirect bot on same FD
-	// not so nice trick to run bash in bash and redirect stderr, maybe someone has a better solution
-	p.set_args(['-c', 'bash 2>&1'])
-	p.set_redirect_stdio()
-	p.run()
-
-	p.stdin_write('${cmd2} && echo **OK**')
-	os.fd_close(p.stdio_fd[0]) // important: close stdin so cmd can end by itself
-
-	for p.is_alive() {
-		line = p.stdout_read()
-		println(line)
-		// line_err = p.stderr_read() //IF WE CALL STDERR_READ will block
-		// we need a mechanism which allows us to check if stderr/stdout has data or it should never block
-		// is not a good way, need to use a string buffer, is slow like this
-		out += line
-		if line.ends_with('**OK**\n') {
-			out = out[0..(out.len - 7)]
-			break
-		}
-	}
-
-	// println("read from stdout, should not block")
-	// is not really needed but good test to see behaviour
-	out += p.stdout_read()
-	println('read done')
-
-	println(p.stderr_read())
-	p.close()
-	p.wait()
-	if p.code > 0 {
-		rc = 1
-		println('ERROR:')
-		println(cmd2)
-		print(out)
-	}
-
-	return out, rc
-}
-
-fn main() {
-	mut out := ''
-	mut rc := 0
-
-	// find files from /tmp excluding files unlistable by current user
-
-	out, rc = exec("find /tmp/ -user \$UID; echo '******'")
-	println(out)
-	assert out.ends_with('******\n')
-
-	out, rc = exec('echo to stdout')
-	assert out.contains('to stdout')
-
-	out, rc = exec('echo to stderr 1>&2')
-	assert out.contains('to stderr')
-
-	out, rc = exec('ls /sssss')
-	assert rc > 0 // THIS STILL GIVES AN ERROR !
-
-	println('test ok stderr & stdout is indeed redirected')
-}
diff --git a/examples/process/write_and_read_from_a_bash_child_process.v b/examples/process/write_and_read_from_a_bash_child_process.v
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..40934201e9e481
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/process/write_and_read_from_a_bash_child_process.v
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+module main
+
+// This example shows how to communicate with a child process (`bash` in this case), by sending
+// commands to its stdin pipe, and reading responses from its stdout and stderr pipes.
+// Note, you can use `if p.is_pending(.stdout) {` and `if p.is_pending(.stderr) {`, to check if
+// there is available data in the pipes, without having to block in your main loop, if the data
+// is missing or just not available yet.
+import os
+import time
+
+const tmp_folder = os.join_path(os.temp_dir(), 'process_folder')
+
+const max_txt_files = 20
+
+fn exec(cmd string) (string, int, string) {
+	mut out := []string{}
+	mut er := []string{}
+	mut rc := 0
+
+	mut p := os.new_process('/bin/bash')
+	p.set_redirect_stdio()
+	p.run()
+
+	p.stdin_write('echo "START         " && sleep 0.1 && ${cmd};\n')
+	p.stdin_write('ECODE=\$?;\n')
+	p.stdin_write('sleep 0.1;\n')
+	p.stdin_write('exit \$ECODE;\n')
+
+	// Note, that you can also ensure that `bash` will exit, when the command finishes,
+	// by closing its stdin pipe. In the above example, that is not needed however, since
+	// the last `exit` command, will make it quit as well.
+	// os.fd_close(p.stdio_fd[0])
+
+	for p.is_alive() {
+		if data := p.pipe_read(.stderr) {
+			eprintln('p.pipe_read .stderr, len: ${data.len:4} | data: `${data#[0..10]}`...')
+			er << data
+		}
+		if data := p.pipe_read(.stdout) {
+			eprintln('p.pipe_read .stdout, len: ${data.len:4} | data: `${data#[0..10]}`...')
+			out << data
+		}
+		// avoid a busy loop, by sleeping a bit between each iteration
+		time.sleep(2 * time.millisecond)
+	}
+
+	// the process finished, slurp all the remaining data in the pipes:
+	out << p.stdout_slurp()
+	er << p.stderr_slurp()
+	p.close()
+	p.wait()
+
+	if p.code > 0 {
+		eprintln('----------------------------------------------------------')
+		eprintln('COMMAND: ${cmd}')
+		eprintln('STDOUT:\n${out}')
+		eprintln('STDERR:\n${er}')
+		eprintln('----------------------------------------------------------')
+		rc = 1
+	}
+
+	return out.join(''), rc, er.join('')
+}
+
+fn main() {
+	mut out := ''
+	mut er := ''
+	mut ecode := 0
+
+	// prepare some files in a temporary folder
+	defer {
+		os.rmdir_all(tmp_folder) or {}
+	}
+	os.mkdir_all(tmp_folder) or {}
+	for i in 0 .. max_txt_files {
+		os.write_file(os.join_path(tmp_folder, '${i}.txt'), '${i}\n${i}\n')!
+	}
+
+	out, ecode, er = exec("find ${os.quoted_path(tmp_folder)} ; sleep 0.1; find ${os.quoted_path(tmp_folder)} ; echo '******'")
+	assert out.ends_with('******\n')
+	assert er == ''
+
+	out, ecode, er = exec('echo to stdout')
+	assert out.contains('to stdout')
+	assert er == ''
+
+	out, ecode, er = exec('echo to stderr 1>&2')
+	assert out.starts_with('START')
+	assert er.contains('to stderr')
+
+	out, ecode, er = exec('ls /sssss')
+	assert out.starts_with('START')
+	assert er != ''
+	assert ecode > 0 // THIS STILL GIVES AN ERROR !
+
+	println('test ok stderr & stdout is indeed redirected, ecode: ${ecode}')
+}
diff --git a/make.bat b/make.bat
index 30432453d6b56f..f2b8e2171be8ae 100644
--- a/make.bat
+++ b/make.bat
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ REM By default, use tcc, since we have it prebuilt:
 :tcc_strap
 :tcc32_strap
 echo  ^> Attempting to build "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" (from v_win.c) with "!tcc_exe!"
-"!tcc_exe!" -Bthirdparty/tcc -bt10 -g -w -o "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" ./vc/v_win.c -ladvapi32
+"!tcc_exe!" -Bthirdparty/tcc -bt10 -g -w -o "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" ./vc/v_win.c -ladvapi32 -lws2_32
 if %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 goto :compile_error
 echo  ^> Compiling "%V_EXE%" with "%V_BOOTSTRAP%"
 "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" -keepc -g -showcc -cc "!tcc_exe!" -cflags -Bthirdparty/tcc -o "%V_UPDATED%" cmd/v
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ if %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 (
 )
 
 echo  ^> Attempting to build "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" (from v_win.c) with Clang
-clang -std=c99 -municode -g -w -o "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" ./vc/v_win.c -ladvapi32
+clang -std=c99 -municode -g -w -o "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" ./vc/v_win.c -ladvapi32 -lws2_32
 if %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 (
 	echo In most cases, compile errors happen because the version of Clang installed is too old
 	clang --version
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ if %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 (
 )
 
 echo  ^> Attempting to build "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" (from v_win.c) with GCC
-gcc -std=c99 -municode -g -w -o "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" ./vc/v_win.c -ladvapi32
+gcc -std=c99 -municode -g -w -o "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" ./vc/v_win.c -ladvapi32 -lws2_32
 if %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 (
 	echo In most cases, compile errors happen because the version of GCC installed is too old
 	gcc --version
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ if exist "%InstallDir%/Common7/Tools/vsdevcmd.bat" (
 set ObjFile=.v.c.obj
 
 echo  ^> Attempting to build "%V_BOOTSTRAP%" (from v_win.c) with MSVC
-cl.exe /volatile:ms /Fo%ObjFile% /W0 /MD /D_VBOOTSTRAP "vc/v_win.c" user32.lib kernel32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib /link /nologo /out:"%V_BOOTSTRAP%" /incremental:no
+cl.exe /volatile:ms /Fo%ObjFile% /W0 /MD /D_VBOOTSTRAP "vc/v_win.c" user32.lib kernel32.lib advapi32.lib shell32.lib ws2_32.lib /link /nologo /out:"%V_BOOTSTRAP%" /incremental:no
 if %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 (
 	echo In some cases, compile errors happen because of the MSVC compiler version
 	cl.exe
diff --git a/vlib/os/fd.c.v b/vlib/os/fd.c.v
index d558ea3597030d..8c06342f146760 100644
--- a/vlib/os/fd.c.v
+++ b/vlib/os/fd.c.v
@@ -1,8 +1,18 @@
 module os
 
-// file descriptor based operations:
+// low level operations with file descriptors/handles
 
-// close filedescriptor
+$if !windows {
+	#include <sys/select.h>
+}
+
+$if windows {
+	#include <winsock2.h>
+}
+
+#flag windows -lws2_32
+
+// fd_close closes the file descriptor. It returns 0 on success.
 pub fn fd_close(fd int) int {
 	if fd == -1 {
 		return 0
@@ -10,6 +20,8 @@ pub fn fd_close(fd int) int {
 	return C.close(fd)
 }
 
+// fd_write writes the given string to the file descriptor.
+// It blocks until all the data in the string is written.
 pub fn fd_write(fd int, s string) {
 	if fd == -1 {
 		return
@@ -26,7 +38,7 @@ pub fn fd_write(fd int, s string) {
 	}
 }
 
-// read from filedescriptor, block until data
+// fd_slurp reads all the remaining data from the file descriptor.
 pub fn fd_slurp(fd int) []string {
 	mut res := []string{}
 	if fd == -1 {
@@ -42,8 +54,7 @@ pub fn fd_slurp(fd int) []string {
 	return res
 }
 
-// read from filedescriptor, don't block
-// return [bytestring,nrbytes]
+// fd_read reads data from the file descriptor. It returns the read data, and how many bytes were read.
 pub fn fd_read(fd int, maxbytes int) (string, int) {
 	if fd == -1 {
 		return '', 0
@@ -59,3 +70,37 @@ pub fn fd_read(fd int, maxbytes int) (string, int) {
 		return tos(buf, nbytes), nbytes
 	}
 }
+
+[typedef]
+pub struct C.fd_set {}
+
+pub struct C.timeval {
+	tv_sec  u64
+	tv_usec u64
+}
+
+fn C.@select(ndfs int, readfds &C.fd_set, writefds &C.fd_set, exceptfds &C.fd_set, timeout &C.timeval) int
+
+// These are C macros, but from the V's point of view, can be treated as C functions:
+fn C.FD_ZERO(fdset &C.fd_set)
+fn C.FD_SET(fd int, fdset &C.fd_set)
+fn C.FD_ISSET(fd int, fdset &C.fd_set) int
+
+// fd_is_pending returns true, when there is pending data, waiting to be read from file descriptor `fd`.
+// If the file descriptor is closed, or if reading from it, will block (there is no data), fd_is_pending returns false.
+pub fn fd_is_pending(fd int) bool {
+	read_set := C.fd_set{}
+	C.FD_ZERO(&read_set)
+	C.FD_SET(fd, &read_set)
+	mut ts := C.timeval{
+		tv_sec: 0
+		tv_usec: 0
+	}
+	res := C.@select(fd + 1, &read_set, C.NULL, C.NULL, &ts)
+	if res > 0 {
+		if C.FD_ISSET(fd, &read_set) != 0 {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/vlib/os/file_test.v b/vlib/os/file_test.v
index 734f9725317455..2b20c38d1c8b20 100644
--- a/vlib/os/file_test.v
+++ b/vlib/os/file_test.v
@@ -93,9 +93,9 @@ fn test_read_bytes_into_newline_binary() {
 	bw[9] = 0xff
 	bw[12] = 10 // newline
 
-	n0_bytes := bw[0..10]
-	n1_bytes := bw[10..13]
-	n2_bytes := bw[13..]
+	n0_bytes := unsafe { bw[0..10] }
+	n1_bytes := unsafe { bw[10..13] }
+	n2_bytes := unsafe { bw[13..] }
 
 	mut f := os.open_file(tfile, 'w')!
 	f.write(bw)!
diff --git a/vlib/os/process.c.v b/vlib/os/process.c.v
index 1497840805190a..a8bdbb57bc21c9 100644
--- a/vlib/os/process.c.v
+++ b/vlib/os/process.c.v
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 module os
 
+// The kind of the pipe file descriptor, that is used for communicating with the child process
+pub enum ChildProcessPipeKind {
+	stdin
+	stdout
+	stderr
+}
+
 // signal_kill - kills the process, after that it is no longer running
 pub fn (mut p Process) signal_kill() {
 	if p.status !in [.running, .stopped] {
@@ -109,69 +116,141 @@ fn (mut p Process) _spawn() int {
 
 // is_alive - query whether the process p.pid is still alive
 pub fn (mut p Process) is_alive() bool {
+	mut res := false
 	if p.status in [.running, .stopped] {
-		return p._is_alive()
+		res = p._is_alive()
 	}
-	return false
+	$if trace_process_is_alive ? {
+		eprintln('${@LOCATION}, pid: ${p.pid}, status: ${p.status}, res: ${res}')
+	}
+	return res
 }
 
 //
 pub fn (mut p Process) set_redirect_stdio() {
 	p.use_stdio_ctl = true
+	$if trace_process_pipes ? {
+		eprintln('${@LOCATION}, pid: ${p.pid}, status: ${p.status}')
+	}
 	return
 }
 
+// stdin_write will write the string `s`, to the stdin pipe of the child process.
 pub fn (mut p Process) stdin_write(s string) {
-	p._check_redirection_call('stdin_write')
-	$if windows {
-		p.win_write_string(0, s)
-	} $else {
-		fd_write(p.stdio_fd[0], s)
+	p._check_redirection_call(@METHOD)
+	$if trace_process_pipes ? {
+		eprintln('${@LOCATION}, pid: ${p.pid}, status: ${p.status}, s.len: ${s.len}, s: `${s}`')
 	}
+	p._write_to(.stdin, s)
 }
 
-// will read from stdout pipe, will only return when EOF (end of file) or data
-// means this will block unless there is data
+// stdout_slurp will read from the stdout pipe, and will block until it either reads all the data, or until the pipe is closed (end of file).
 pub fn (mut p Process) stdout_slurp() string {
-	p._check_redirection_call('stdout_slurp')
-	$if windows {
-		return p.win_slurp(1)
-	} $else {
-		return fd_slurp(p.stdio_fd[1]).join('')
+	p._check_redirection_call(@METHOD)
+	res := p._slurp_from(.stdout)
+	$if trace_process_pipes ? {
+		eprintln('${@LOCATION}, pid: ${p.pid}, status: ${p.status}, res.len: ${res.len}, res: `${res}`')
 	}
+	return res
 }
 
-// read from stderr pipe, wait for data or EOF
+// stderr_slurp will read from the stderr pipe, and will block until it either reads all the data, or until the pipe is closed (end of file).
 pub fn (mut p Process) stderr_slurp() string {
-	p._check_redirection_call('stderr_slurp')
-	$if windows {
-		return p.win_slurp(2)
-	} $else {
-		return fd_slurp(p.stdio_fd[2]).join('')
+	p._check_redirection_call(@METHOD)
+	res := p._slurp_from(.stderr)
+	$if trace_process_pipes ? {
+		eprintln('${@LOCATION}, pid: ${p.pid}, status: ${p.status}, res.len: ${res.len}, res: `${res}`')
 	}
+	return res
 }
 
-// read from stdout, return if data or not
+// stdout_read reads a block of data, from the stdout pipe of the child process. It will block, if there is no data to be read.
+// Call .is_pending() to check if there is data to be read, if you do not want to block.
 pub fn (mut p Process) stdout_read() string {
-	p._check_redirection_call('stdout_read')
+	p._check_redirection_call(@METHOD)
+	res := p._read_from(.stdout)
+	$if trace_process_pipes ? {
+		eprintln('${@LOCATION}, pid: ${p.pid}, status: ${p.status}, res.len: ${res.len}, res: `${res}`')
+	}
+	return res
+}
+
+// stderr_read reads a block of data, from the stderr pipe of the child process. It will block, if there is no data to be read.
+// Call .is_pending() to check if there is data to be read, if you do not want to block.
+pub fn (mut p Process) stderr_read() string {
+	p._check_redirection_call(@METHOD)
+	res := p._read_from(.stderr)
+	$if trace_process_pipes ? {
+		eprintln('${@LOCATION}, pid: ${p.pid}, status: ${p.status}, res.len: ${res.len}, res: `${res}`')
+	}
+	return res
+}
+
+// pipe_read reads a block of data, from the given pipe of the child process.
+// It will return `none`, if there is no data to be read, *without blocking*.
+pub fn (mut p Process) pipe_read(pkind ChildProcessPipeKind) ?string {
+	p._check_redirection_call(@METHOD)
+	if !p._is_pending(pkind) {
+		$if trace_process_pipes ? {
+			eprintln('${@LOCATION}, pid: ${p.pid}, status: ${p.status}, no pending data')
+		}
+		return none
+	}
+	res := p._read_from(pkind)
+	$if trace_process_pipes ? {
+		eprintln('${@LOCATION}, pid: ${p.pid}, status: ${p.status}, res.len: ${res.len}, res: `${res}`')
+	}
+	return res
+}
+
+// is_pending returns whether there is data to be read from child process's pipe corresponding to `pkind`.
+// For example `if p.is_pending(.stdout) { dump( p.stdout_read() ) }` will not block indefinitely.
+pub fn (mut p Process) is_pending(pkind ChildProcessPipeKind) bool {
+	p._check_redirection_call(@METHOD)
+	res := p._is_pending(pkind)
+	$if trace_process_pipes ? {
+		eprintln('${@LOCATION}, pid: ${p.pid}, status: ${p.status}, pkind: ${pkind}, res: ${res}')
+	}
+	return res
+}
+
+// _read_from should be called only from .stdout_read/0, .stderr_read/0 and .pipe_read/1
+fn (mut p Process) _read_from(pkind ChildProcessPipeKind) string {
 	$if windows {
-		s, _ := p.win_read_string(1, 4096)
+		s, _ := p.win_read_string(int(pkind), 4096)
 		return s
 	} $else {
-		s, _ := fd_read(p.stdio_fd[1], 4096)
+		s, _ := fd_read(p.stdio_fd[pkind], 4096)
 		return s
 	}
 }
 
-pub fn (mut p Process) stderr_read() string {
-	p._check_redirection_call('stderr_read')
+// _slurp_from should be called only from stdout_slurp() and stderr_slurp()
+fn (mut p Process) _slurp_from(pkind ChildProcessPipeKind) string {
 	$if windows {
-		s, _ := p.win_read_string(2, 4096)
-		return s
+		return p.win_slurp(int(pkind))
 	} $else {
-		s, _ := fd_read(p.stdio_fd[2], 4096)
-		return s
+		return fd_slurp(p.stdio_fd[pkind]).join('')
+	}
+}
+
+// _write_to should be called only from stdin_write()
+fn (mut p Process) _write_to(pkind ChildProcessPipeKind, s string) {
+	$if windows {
+		p.win_write_string(int(pkind), s)
+	} $else {
+		fd_write(p.stdio_fd[pkind], s)
+	}
+}
+
+// _is_pending should be called only from is_pending()
+fn (mut p Process) _is_pending(pkind ChildProcessPipeKind) bool {
+	$if windows {
+		// TODO
+	} $else {
+		return fd_is_pending(p.stdio_fd[pkind])
 	}
+	return false
 }
 
 // _check_redirection_call - should be called just by stdxxx methods
diff --git a/vlib/v/builder/msvc_windows.v b/vlib/v/builder/msvc_windows.v
index 933d4eda4976a5..abd3ddaeba0079 100644
--- a/vlib/v/builder/msvc_windows.v
+++ b/vlib/v/builder/msvc_windows.v
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ pub fn (mut v Builder) cc_msvc() {
 	// Emily:
 	// Not all of these are needed (but the compiler should discard them if they are not used)
 	// these are the defaults used by msbuild and visual studio
-	mut real_libs := ['kernel32.lib', 'user32.lib', 'advapi32.lib']
+	mut real_libs := ['kernel32.lib', 'user32.lib', 'advapi32.lib', 'ws2_32.lib']
 	sflags := msvc_string_flags(v.get_os_cflags())
 	real_libs << sflags.real_libs
 	inc_paths := sflags.inc_paths
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/dump_c_struct_test.v b/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/dump_c_struct_test.v
index fbbb36b148c0a8..e6ccc62712c129 100644
--- a/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/dump_c_struct_test.v
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/dump_c_struct_test.v
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 #include "@VMODROOT/epoll.h"
 #include "@VMODROOT/netdb.h"
 
-pub struct C.epoll_event {
+pub struct C.zz_epoll_event {
 mut:
 	events u32
-	data   C.epoll_data_t
+	data   C.zz_epoll_data_t
 }
 
 [typedef]
-pub union C.epoll_data_t {
+pub union C.zz_epoll_data_t {
 mut:
 	ptr voidptr
 	fd  int
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ mut:
 }
 
 struct Epoll {
-	ev C.epoll_event
+	ev C.zz_epoll_event
 }
 
-pub struct C.hostent {
+pub struct C.zz_hostent {
 	h_name      &char
 	h_aliases   &&char
 	h_addrtype  int
@@ -29,18 +29,18 @@ pub struct C.hostent {
 }
 
 fn test_dump_c_struct() {
-	ev := C.epoll_event{}
+	ev := C.zz_epoll_event{}
 	unsafe { C.memset(&ev, 0, sizeof(ev)) }
 	dump(ev)
 	println(ev)
 
 	e := Epoll{
-		ev: C.epoll_event{}
+		ev: C.zz_epoll_event{}
 	}
 	dump(e)
 	println(e)
 	//
-	mut hostent := &C.hostent{
+	mut hostent := &C.zz_hostent{
 		h_addr_list: unsafe { nil }
 		h_aliases: unsafe { nil }
 		h_name: unsafe { nil }
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/epoll.h b/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/epoll.h
index c6bc66aa8c9987..d3d7001926ae04 100644
--- a/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/epoll.h
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/epoll.h
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
-typedef union epoll_data {
+// Note: the name zz_epoll_data is deliberately chosen to minimise the chance of conflicts with `epoll_data` in the future.
+typedef union zz_epoll_data {
      void *ptr;
      int fd;
      uint32_t u32;
      uint64_t u64;
-} epoll_data_t;
+} zz_epoll_data_t;
  
-struct epoll_event {
+struct zz_epoll_event {
     uint32_t events; /* Epoll events */
-    epoll_data_t data; /* User data variable */
+    zz_epoll_data_t data; /* User data variable */
 };
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/netdb.h b/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/netdb.h
index bce8a3656aa535..87fc566d854ada 100644
--- a/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/netdb.h
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/dump_c_structs/netdb.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
 /* Description of data base entry for a single host.  */
-struct hostent {
+struct zz_hostent {
      char *h_name;         /* Official name of host.  */
      char **h_aliases;     /* Alias list.  */
      int h_addrtype;       /* Host address type.  */