The first c-ares release so far in 2009 took place today when we shipped c-ares 1.7.0 and uploaded it to the web site.

News this time include:

• Added ares_library_init() and ares_library_cleanup()
• Added ares_parse_srv_reply(), ares_parse_txt_reply() and ares_free_data()
• in6_addr is not used in ares.h anymore, but a private ares_in6_addr is
  instead declared and used
• ares_gethostbyname() now supports ‘AF_UNSPEC’ as a family for resolving
  either AF_INET6 or AF_INET
• a build-time configured ares_socklen_t is now used instead of socklen_t
• new –enable-curldebug configure option
• ARES_ECANCELLED is now sent as reason for ares_cancel()
• new –enable-symbol-hiding configure option
• new Makefile.msvc for any MSVC compiler or MS Visual Studio version
• addrttl and addr6ttl structs renamed to ares_addrttl and ares_addr6ttl
• naming convention for libraries built with MSVC, see README.msvc

The set of bugfixes done include these:

• ares_parse_*_reply() functions now return ARES_EBADRESP instead of
  ARES_EBADNAME if the name in the response failed to decode
• only expose/export symbols starting with ‘ares_’
• fix \Device\TCP handle leaks triggered by buggy iphlpapi.dll
• init without internet gone no longer fails
• out of bounds memory overwrite triggered with malformed /etc/hosts file
• function prototypes in man pages out of sync with ares.h

As usual, c-ares would be nothing without the fierce and skillful help provided by a team of volunteer hackers. We always need more help and assitance, join the c-ares mailing list and join in the fun!