diff --git a/src/platform.h b/src/platform.h
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/platform.h
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/**
+ *
+ * /brief general functions with platform-dependent implementations
+ *
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2017, NLnet Labs, Sinodun
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+ * * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *   documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ * * Neither the names of the copyright holders nor the
+ *   names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
+ *   derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
+ * ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+ * WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+ * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL Verisign, Inc. BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+ * DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+ * (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+ * LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
+ * ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+ * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#ifndef PLATFORM_H
+#define PLATFORM_H
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#ifdef USE_WINSOCK
+typedef u_short sa_family_t;
+#define _getdns_EAGAIN      (WSATRY_AGAIN)
+#define _getdns_EWOULDBLOCK (WSAEWOULDBLOCK)
+#define _getdns_EINPROGRESS (WSAEINPROGRESS)
+#define _getdns_EMFILE      (WSAEMFILE)
+#define _getdns_ECONNRESET  (WSAECONNRESET)
+
+#define _getdns_closesocket(fd) closesocket(fd)
+#define _getdns_poll(fdarray, nsockets, timer) WSAPoll(fdarray, nsockets, timer)
+#define _getdns_socketerror() (WSAGetLastError())
+
+#else /* USE_WINSOCK */
+
+#ifdef HAVE_SYS_POLL_H
+# include <sys/poll.h>
+#else
+# include <poll.h>
+#endif
+
+#define _getdns_EAGAIN      (EAGAIN)
+#define _getdns_EWOULDBLOCK (EWOULDBLOCK)
+#define _getdns_EINPROGRESS (EINPROGRESS)
+#define _getdns_EMFILE      (EMFILE)
+#define _getdns_ECONNRESET  (ECONNRESET)
+
+#define SOCKADDR struct sockaddr
+#define SOCKADDR_IN struct sockaddr_in
+#define SOCKADDR_IN6 struct sockaddr_in6
+#define SOCKADDR_STORAGE struct sockaddr_storage
+#define SOCKET int
+
+#define IP_MREQ struct ip_mreq
+#define IPV6_MREQ struct ipv6_mreq
+#define BOOL int
+#define TRUE 1
+
+#define _getdns_closesocket(fd) close(fd)
+#define _getdns_poll(fdarray, nsockets, timer) poll(fdarray, nsockets, timer)
+#define _getdns_socketerror() (errno)
+#endif
+
+#endif