diff --git a/src/Make_bc5.mak b/src/Make_bc5.mak
index 8dcb6e8..cb48ce0 100644
--- a/src/Make_bc5.mak
+++ b/src/Make_bc5.mak
@@ -86,9 +86,12 @@
 #		(BIG for WIN32, SMALL for DOS16)
 # WINVER	0x0400 or 0x0500: minimum Win32 version to support (0x0400)
 # CSCOPE	no or yes: include support for Cscope interface (yes)
-# NETBEANS	no or yes: include support for Netbeans interface (yes if GUI
+# NETBEANS	no or yes: include support for Netbeans interface; also
+#		requires CHANNEL (yes if GUI
 #		is yes)
 # NBDEBUG	no or yes: include support for debugging Netbeans interface (no)
+# CHANNEL	no or yes: include support for inter process communication (yes
+#		if GUI is yes)
 # XPM		define to path to XPM dir to get support for loading XPM images.
 
 ### BOR: root of the BC installation
@@ -137,6 +140,11 @@
 NETBEANS = yes
 !endif
 
+### CHANNEL: yes to enable inter process communication, no to disable it
+!if ("$(CHANNEL)"=="") && ("$(GUI)"=="yes")
+CHANNEL = yes
+!endif
+
 ### LUA: uncomment this line if you want lua support in vim
 # LUA=c:\lua
 
@@ -466,6 +474,7 @@
 RESFILE = vim.res
 !else
 !undef NETBEANS
+!undef CHANNEL
 !undef XPM
 !undef VIMDLL
 !if ("$(DEBUG)"=="yes")
@@ -488,12 +497,21 @@
 !endif
 
 !if ("$(NETBEANS)"=="yes")
+!if ("$(CHANNEL)"!="yes")
+# cannot use Netbeans without CHANNEL
+NETBEANS = no
+!else
 DEFINES = $(DEFINES) -DFEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
 !if ("$(NBDEBUG)"=="yes")
 DEFINES = $(DEFINES) -DNBDEBUG
 NBDEBUG_DEP = nbdebug.h nbdebug.c
 !endif
 !endif
+!endif
+
+!if ("$(CHANNEL)"=="yes")
+DEFINES = $(DEFINES) -DFEAT_CHANNEL
+!endif
 
 !ifdef XPM
 !if ("$(GUI)"=="yes")
@@ -673,6 +691,11 @@
     $(OBJDIR)\netbeans.obj
 !endif
 
+!if ("$(CHANNEL)"=="yes")
+vimobj = $(vimobj) \
+    $(OBJDIR)\channel.obj
+!endif
+
 !ifdef XPM
 vimobj = $(vimobj) \
     $(OBJDIR)\xpm_w32.obj
@@ -748,6 +771,9 @@
 !if ("$(NETBEANS)"=="yes")
 MSG = $(MSG) NETBEANS
 !endif
+!if ("$(CHANNEL)"=="yes")
+MSG = $(MSG) CHANNEL
+!endif
 !ifdef XPM
 MSG = $(MSG) XPM
 !endif
@@ -1029,6 +1055,9 @@
 $(OBJDIR)\netbeans.obj: netbeans.c $(NBDEBUG_DEP)
 	$(CC) $(CCARG) $(CC1) $(CC2)$@ netbeans.c
 
+$(OBJDIR)\channel.obj: channel.c
+	$(CC) $(CCARG) $(CC1) $(CC2)$@ channel.c
+
 $(OBJDIR)\vim.res: vim.rc version.h tools.bmp tearoff.bmp \
 		vim.ico vim_error.ico vim_alert.ico vim_info.ico vim_quest.ico
 	$(BRC) -fo$(OBJDIR)\vim.res -i $(BOR)\include -w32 -r vim.rc @&&|
diff --git a/src/Make_cyg_ming.mak b/src/Make_cyg_ming.mak
index 7c7acbd..5c7332e 100644
--- a/src/Make_cyg_ming.mak
+++ b/src/Make_cyg_ming.mak
@@ -64,8 +64,10 @@
 endif
 # Set to yes to enable Cscope support.
 CSCOPE=yes
-# Set to yes to enable Netbeans support.
+# Set to yes to enable Netbeans support (requires CHANNEL).
 NETBEANS=$(GUI)
+# Set to yes to enable inter process communication.
+CHANNEL=$(GUI)
 
 
 # Link against the shared version of libstdc++ by default.  Set
@@ -526,6 +528,10 @@
 endif
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(CHANNEL),yes)
+DEFINES += -DFEAT_CHANNEL
+endif
+
 # DirectWrite (DirectX)
 ifeq ($(DIRECTX),yes)
 # Only allow DirectWrite for a GUI build.
@@ -667,13 +673,28 @@
 ifeq ($(CSCOPE),yes)
 OBJ += $(OUTDIR)/if_cscope.o
 endif
+
 ifeq ($(NETBEANS),yes)
+ifneq ($(CHANNEL),yes)
+# Cannot use Netbeans without CHANNEL
+NETBEANS=no
+else
 # Only allow NETBEANS for a GUI build.
 ifeq (yes, $(GUI))
 OBJ += $(OUTDIR)/netbeans.o
 LIB += -lwsock32
 endif
 endif
+endif
+
+ifeq ($(CHANNEL),yes)
+OBJ += $(OUTDIR)/channel.o
+ifneq ($(NETBEANS),yes)
+LIB += -lwsock32
+endif
+endif
+endif
+
 ifeq ($(DIRECTX),yes)
 # Only allow DIRECTX for a GUI build.
 ifeq (yes, $(GUI))
@@ -866,6 +887,9 @@
 $(OUTDIR)/netbeans.o:	netbeans.c $(INCL) $(NBDEBUG_INCL) $(NBDEBUG_SRC)
 	$(CC) -c $(CFLAGS) netbeans.c -o $(OUTDIR)/netbeans.o
 
+$(OUTDIR)/channel.o:	channel.c $(INCL)
+	$(CC) -c $(CFLAGS) channel.c -o $(OUTDIR)/channel.o
+
 $(OUTDIR)/regexp.o:		regexp.c regexp_nfa.c $(INCL)
 	$(CC) -c $(CFLAGS) regexp.c -o $(OUTDIR)/regexp.o
 
diff --git a/src/Make_mvc.mak b/src/Make_mvc.mak
index c009aa9..c34a63e 100644
--- a/src/Make_mvc.mak
+++ b/src/Make_mvc.mak
@@ -96,6 +96,13 @@
 #	PostScript printing: POSTSCRIPT=yes (default is no)
 #
 #	Netbeans Support: NETBEANS=[yes or no] (default is yes if GUI is yes)
+#	Requires CHANNEL.
+#
+#	Netbeans Debugging Support: NBDEBUG=[yes or no] (should be no, yes
+#	doesn't work)
+#
+#	Inter process communication: CHANNEL=[yes or no] (default is yes if GUI
+#	is yes)
 #
 #	XPM Image Support: XPM=[path to XPM directory]
 #	Default is "xpm", using the files included in the distribution.
@@ -114,9 +121,6 @@
 #	  yes:   Write a normal mapfile.
 #	  lines: Write a mapfile with line numbers (only for VC6 and later)
 #
-#	Netbeans Debugging Support: NBDEBUG=[yes or no] (should be no, yes
-#	doesn't work)
-#
 #	Static Code Analysis: ANALYZE=yes (works with VS2012 only)
 #
 # You can combine any of these interfaces
@@ -290,9 +294,13 @@
 NETBEANS = $(GUI)
 !endif
 
-# Only allow NETBEANS and XPM for a GUI build.
+!ifndef CHANNEL
+CHANNEL = $(GUI)
+!endif
+
+# Only allow NETBEANS and XPM for a GUI build and CHANNEL.
 !if "$(GUI)" == "yes"
-!if "$(NETBEANS)" == "yes"
+!if "$(NETBEANS)" == "yes" && "$(CHANNEL)" == "yes"
 # NETBEANS - Include support for Netbeans integration
 NETBEANS_PRO	= proto/netbeans.pro
 NETBEANS_OBJ	= $(OBJDIR)/netbeans.obj
@@ -333,6 +341,14 @@
 !endif
 !endif
 
+!if "$(CHANNEL)" == "yes"
+CHANNEL_PRO	= proto/channel.pro
+CHANNEL_OBJ	= $(OBJDIR)/channel.obj
+CHANNEL_DEFS	= -DFEAT_CHANNEL
+
+NETBEANS_LIB	= WSock32.lib
+!endif
+
 # Set which version of the CRT to use
 !if defined(USE_MSVCRT)
 # CVARS = $(cvarsdll)
@@ -365,7 +381,7 @@
 #VIMRUNTIMEDIR = somewhere
 
 CFLAGS = -c /W3 /nologo $(CVARS) -I. -Iproto -DHAVE_PATHDEF -DWIN32 \
-		$(SNIFF_DEFS) $(CSCOPE_DEFS) $(NETBEANS_DEFS) \
+		$(SNIFF_DEFS) $(CSCOPE_DEFS) $(NETBEANS_DEFS) $(CHANNEL_DEFS) \
 		$(NBDEBUG_DEFS) $(XPM_DEFS) \
 		$(DEFINES) -DWINVER=$(WINVER) -D_WIN32_WINNT=$(WINVER) \
 		/Fo$(OUTDIR)/ 
@@ -1005,12 +1021,12 @@
 
 $(VIM).exe: $(OUTDIR) $(OBJ) $(GUI_OBJ) $(OLE_OBJ) $(OLE_IDL) $(MZSCHEME_OBJ) \
 		$(LUA_OBJ) $(PERL_OBJ) $(PYTHON_OBJ) $(PYTHON3_OBJ) $(RUBY_OBJ) $(TCL_OBJ) \
-		$(SNIFF_OBJ) $(CSCOPE_OBJ) $(NETBEANS_OBJ) $(XPM_OBJ) \
+		$(SNIFF_OBJ) $(CSCOPE_OBJ) $(NETBEANS_OBJ) $(CHANNEL_OBJ) $(XPM_OBJ) \
 		version.c version.h
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) version.c
 	$(link) $(LINKARGS1) -out:$(VIM).exe $(OBJ) $(GUI_OBJ) $(OLE_OBJ) \
 		$(LUA_OBJ) $(MZSCHEME_OBJ) $(PERL_OBJ) $(PYTHON_OBJ) $(PYTHON3_OBJ) $(RUBY_OBJ) \
-		$(TCL_OBJ) $(SNIFF_OBJ) $(CSCOPE_OBJ) $(NETBEANS_OBJ) \
+		$(TCL_OBJ) $(SNIFF_OBJ) $(CSCOPE_OBJ) $(NETBEANS_OBJ) $(CHANNEL_OBJ) \
 		$(XPM_OBJ) $(OUTDIR)\version.obj $(LINKARGS2)
 	if exist $(VIM).exe.manifest mt.exe -nologo -manifest $(VIM).exe.manifest -updateresource:$(VIM).exe;1
 
@@ -1227,6 +1243,8 @@
 
 $(OUTDIR)/netbeans.obj: $(OUTDIR) netbeans.c $(NBDEBUG_SRC) $(INCL)
 
+$(OUTDIR)/channel.obj: $(OUTDIR) channel.c $(INCL)
+
 $(OUTDIR)/normal.obj:	$(OUTDIR) normal.c  $(INCL)
 
 $(OUTDIR)/option.obj:	$(OUTDIR) option.c  $(INCL)
@@ -1362,7 +1380,8 @@
 	proto/ui.pro \
 	proto/undo.pro \
 	proto/window.pro \
-	$(NETBEANS_PRO)
+	$(NETBEANS_PRO) \
+	$(CHANNEL_PRO)
 
 .SUFFIXES: .cod .i
 
diff --git a/src/auto/configure b/src/auto/configure
index 96e5093..7ba3cc4 100755
--- a/src/auto/configure
+++ b/src/auto/configure
@@ -656,6 +656,8 @@
 xmkmfpath
 SNIFF_OBJ
 SNIFF_SRC
+CHANNEL_OBJ
+CHANNEL_SRC
 NETBEANS_OBJ
 NETBEANS_SRC
 WORKSHOP_OBJ
@@ -810,6 +812,7 @@
 enable_cscope
 enable_workshop
 enable_netbeans
+enable_channel
 enable_sniff
 enable_multibyte
 enable_hangulinput
@@ -1473,6 +1476,7 @@
   --enable-cscope         Include cscope interface.
   --enable-workshop       Include Sun Visual Workshop support.
   --disable-netbeans      Disable NetBeans integration support.
+  --disable-channel      Disable process communication support.
   --enable-sniff          Include Sniff interface.
   --enable-multibyte      Include multibyte editing support.
   --enable-hangulinput    Include Hangul input support.
@@ -7227,6 +7231,29 @@
 if test "$enable_netbeans" = "yes"; then
   { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: no" >&5
 $as_echo "no" >&6; }
+else
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: yes" >&5
+$as_echo "yes" >&6; }
+fi
+
+{ $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking --disable-channel argument" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking --disable-channel argument... " >&6; }
+# Check whether --enable-channel was given.
+if test "${enable_channel+set}" = set; then :
+  enableval=$enable_channel;
+else
+  enable_channel="yes"
+fi
+
+if test "$enable_channel" = "yes"; then
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: no" >&5
+$as_echo "no" >&6; }
+else
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: yes" >&5
+$as_echo "yes" >&6; }
+fi
+
+if test "$enable_netbeans" = "yes" -o "$enable_channel" = "yes"; then
     { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for socket in -lsocket" >&5
 $as_echo_n "checking for socket in -lsocket... " >&6; }
 if ${ac_cv_lib_socket_socket+:} false; then :
@@ -7317,8 +7344,8 @@
 
 fi
 
-  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking whether compiling netbeans integration is possible" >&5
-$as_echo_n "checking whether compiling netbeans integration is possible... " >&6; }
+  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking whether compiling with process communication is possible" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking whether compiling with process communication is possible... " >&6; }
   cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.$ac_ext
 /* end confdefs.h.  */
 
@@ -7358,13 +7385,10 @@
 $as_echo "yes" >&6; }
 else
   { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: no" >&5
-$as_echo "no" >&6; }; enable_netbeans="no"
+$as_echo "no" >&6; }; enable_netbeans="no"; enable_channel="no"
 fi
 rm -f core conftest.err conftest.$ac_objext \
     conftest$ac_exeext conftest.$ac_ext
-else
-  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: yes" >&5
-$as_echo "yes" >&6; }
 fi
 if test "$enable_netbeans" = "yes"; then
   $as_echo "#define FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG 1" >>confdefs.h
@@ -7374,6 +7398,14 @@
   NETBEANS_OBJ="objects/netbeans.o"
 
 fi
+if test "$enable_channel" = "yes"; then
+  $as_echo "#define FEAT_CHANNEL 1" >>confdefs.h
+
+  CHANNEL_SRC="channel.c"
+
+  CHANNEL_OBJ="objects/channel.o"
+
+fi
 
 { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking --enable-sniff argument" >&5
 $as_echo_n "checking --enable-sniff argument... " >&6; }
diff --git a/src/channel.c b/src/channel.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a108d7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/channel.c
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+/* vi:set ts=8 sts=4 sw=4:
+ *
+ * VIM - Vi IMproved	by Bram Moolenaar
+ *
+ * Do ":help uganda"  in Vim to read copying and usage conditions.
+ * Do ":help credits" in Vim to see a list of people who contributed.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Implements communication through a socket or any file handle.
+ */
+
+#include "vim.h"
+
+#if defined(FEAT_CHANNEL) || defined(PROTO)
+
+typedef struct {
+    sock_T  ch_fd;
+    int	    ch_idx;
+} channel_T;
+
+static channel_T *channels = NULL;
+static int channel_count = 0;
+
+/*
+ * Add a new channel slot, return the index.
+ * Returns -1 if out of space.
+ */
+    static int
+add_channel(void)
+{
+    int		idx;
+    channel_T	*new_channels;
+
+    if (channels != NULL)
+	for (idx = 0; idx < channel_count; ++idx)
+	    if (channels[idx].ch_fd < 0)
+		/* re-use a closed channel slot */
+		return idx;
+    if (channel_count == MAX_OPEN_CHANNELS)
+	return -1;
+    new_channels = (channel_T *)alloc(sizeof(channel_T) * channel_count + 1);
+    if (new_channels == NULL)
+	return -1;
+    if (channels != NULL)
+	mch_memmove(new_channels, channels, sizeof(channel_T) * channel_count);
+    channels = new_channels;
+    channels[channel_count].ch_fd = (sock_T)-1;
+
+    return channel_count++;
+}
+
+#if defined(FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG) || defined(PROTO)
+static int netbeans_channel = -1;
+
+/*
+ * Add the netbeans socket to the channels.
+ * Return the channel index.
+ */
+    int
+channel_add_netbeans(sock_T fd)
+{
+    int idx = add_channel();
+
+    if (idx >= 0)
+    {
+	channels[idx].ch_fd = fd;
+	netbeans_channel = idx;
+    }
+    return idx;
+}
+
+    void
+channel_remove_netbeans()
+{
+    channels[netbeans_channel].ch_fd = (sock_T)-1;
+    netbeans_channel = -1;
+}
+#endif
+
+    static void
+channel_read(int idx)
+{
+# ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
+    if (idx == netbeans_channel)
+	netbeans_read();
+    else
+# endif
+    {
+	; /* TODO: read */
+    }
+}
+
+#if (defined(UNIX) && !defined(HAVE_SELECT)) || defined(PROTO)
+/*
+ * Add open channels to the poll struct.
+ * Return the adjusted struct index.
+ * The type of "fds" is hidden to avoid problems with the function proto.
+ */
+    int
+channel_poll_setup(int nfd_in, void *fds_in)
+{
+    int nfd = nfd_in;
+    int i;
+    struct pollfd *fds = fds_in;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < channel_count; ++i)
+	if (channels[i].ch_fd >= 0)
+	{
+	    channels[i].ch_idx = nfd;
+	    fds[nfd].fd = channels[i].ch_fd;
+	    fds[nfd].events = POLLIN;
+	    nfd++;
+	}
+	else
+	    channels[i].ch_idx = -1;
+
+    return nfd;
+}
+
+/*
+ * The type of "fds" is hidden to avoid problems with the function proto.
+ */
+    int
+channel_poll_check(int ret_in, void *fds_in)
+{
+    int ret = ret_in;
+    int i;
+    struct pollfd *fds = fds_in;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < channel_count; ++i)
+	if (ret > 0 && channels[i].ch_idx != -1
+				 && fds[channels[i].ch_idx].revents & POLLIN)
+	{
+	    channel_read(i);
+	    --ret;
+	}
+
+    return ret;
+}
+#endif /* UNIX && !HAVE_SELECT */
+
+#if (defined(UNIX) && defined(HAVE_SELECT)) || defined(PROTO)
+/*
+ * The type of "rfds" is hidden to avoid problems with the function proto.
+ */
+    int
+channel_select_setup(int maxfd_in, void *rfds_in)
+{
+    int	    maxfd = maxfd_in;
+    int	    i;
+    fd_set  *rfds = rfds_in;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < channel_count; ++i)
+	if (channels[i].ch_fd >= 0)
+	{
+	    FD_SET(channels[i].ch_fd, rfds);
+	    if (maxfd < channels[i].ch_fd)
+		maxfd = channels[i].ch_fd;
+	}
+
+    return maxfd;
+}
+
+/*
+ * The type of "rfds" is hidden to avoid problems with the function proto.
+ */
+    int
+channel_select_check(int ret_in, void *rfds_in)
+{
+    int	    ret = ret_in;
+    int	    i;
+    fd_set  *rfds = rfds_in;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < channel_count; ++i)
+	if (ret > 0 && channels[i].ch_fd >= 0
+				       && FD_ISSET(channels[i].ch_fd, rfds))
+	{
+	    channel_read(i);
+	    --ret;
+	}
+
+    return ret;
+}
+#endif /* UNIX && HAVE_SELECT */
+
+#endif /* FEAT_CHANNEL */
diff --git a/src/config.aap.in b/src/config.aap.in
index d398a19..819276f 100644
--- a/src/config.aap.in
+++ b/src/config.aap.in
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@
 
 NETBEANS_SRC	= @NETBEANS_SRC@
 NETBEANS_OBJ	= @NETBEANS_OBJ@
+CHANNEL_SRC	= @CHANNEL_SRC@
+CHANNEL_OBJ	= @CHANNEL_OBJ@
 
 RUBY		= @vi_cv_path_ruby@
 RUBY_SRC	= @RUBY_SRC@
diff --git a/src/config.h.in b/src/config.h.in
index d4fd50a..9807bd2 100644
--- a/src/config.h.in
+++ b/src/config.h.in
@@ -435,6 +435,9 @@
 /* Define if you want to include NetBeans integration. */
 #undef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
 
+/* Define if you want to include process communication. */
+#undef FEAT_CHANNEL
+
 /* Define default global runtime path */
 #undef RUNTIME_GLOBAL
 
diff --git a/src/config.mk.in b/src/config.mk.in
index 9e16d13..5f7f1d5 100644
--- a/src/config.mk.in
+++ b/src/config.mk.in
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@
 
 NETBEANS_SRC	= @NETBEANS_SRC@
 NETBEANS_OBJ	= @NETBEANS_OBJ@
+CHANNEL_SRC	= @CHANNEL_SRC@
+CHANNEL_OBJ	= @CHANNEL_OBJ@
 
 RUBY		= @vi_cv_path_ruby@
 RUBY_SRC	= @RUBY_SRC@
diff --git a/src/configure.in b/src/configure.in
index 4bb49a7..90a17ac 100644
--- a/src/configure.in
+++ b/src/configure.in
@@ -1938,10 +1938,30 @@
 	, [enable_netbeans="yes"])
 if test "$enable_netbeans" = "yes"; then
   AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
+else
+  AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
+fi
+
+AC_MSG_CHECKING(--disable-channel argument)
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(channel,
+	[  --disable-channel      Disable process communication support.],
+	, [enable_channel="yes"])
+if test "$enable_channel" = "yes"; then
+  AC_MSG_RESULT(no)
+else
+  if test "$enable_netbeans" = "yes"; then
+    AC_MSG_RESULT(yes, netbeans also disabled)
+    enable_netbeans="no"
+  else
+    AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
+  fi
+fi
+
+if "$enable_channel" = "yes"; then
   dnl On Solaris we need the socket and nsl library.
   AC_CHECK_LIB(socket, socket)
   AC_CHECK_LIB(nsl, gethostbyname)
-  AC_MSG_CHECKING(whether compiling netbeans integration is possible)
+  AC_MSG_CHECKING(whether compiling with process communication is possible)
   AC_TRY_LINK([
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -1967,9 +1987,7 @@
 		  (void)connect(1, (struct sockaddr *)&server, sizeof(server));
 	    ],
 	AC_MSG_RESULT(yes),
-	AC_MSG_RESULT(no); enable_netbeans="no")
-else
-  AC_MSG_RESULT(yes)
+	AC_MSG_RESULT(no); enable_netbeans="no"; enable_channel="no")
 fi
 if test "$enable_netbeans" = "yes"; then
   AC_DEFINE(FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG)
@@ -1978,6 +1996,13 @@
   NETBEANS_OBJ="objects/netbeans.o"
   AC_SUBST(NETBEANS_OBJ)
 fi
+if test "$enable_channel" = "yes"; then
+  AC_DEFINE(FEAT_CHANNEL)
+  CHANNEL_SRC="channel.c"
+  AC_SUBST(CHANNEL_SRC)
+  CHANNEL_OBJ="objects/channel.o"
+  AC_SUBST(CHANNEL_OBJ)
+fi
 
 AC_MSG_CHECKING(--enable-sniff argument)
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(sniff,
diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 860bc35..d08269f 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -13083,6 +13083,9 @@
 #ifdef FEAT_BYTEOFF
 	"byte_offset",
 #endif
+#ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+	"channel",
+#endif
 #ifdef FEAT_CINDENT
 	"cindent",
 #endif
diff --git a/src/feature.h b/src/feature.h
index 5de0fce..dd18394 100644
--- a/src/feature.h
+++ b/src/feature.h
@@ -1237,6 +1237,7 @@
  * +sniff		Sniff interface: "--enable-sniff"
  * +sun_workshop	Sun Workshop integration
  * +netbeans_intg	Netbeans integration
+ * +channel		Inter process communication
  */
 
 /*
@@ -1261,6 +1262,13 @@
 #endif
 
 /*
+ * The Channel feature requires +eval.
+ */
+#if !defined(FEAT_EVAL) && defined(FEAT_CHANNEL)
+# undef FEAT_CHANNEL
+#endif
+
+/*
  * +signs		Allow signs to be displayed to the left of text lines.
  *			Adds the ":sign" command.
  */
diff --git a/src/gui_w32.c b/src/gui_w32.c
index db0a9d5..ecc1fab 100644
--- a/src/gui_w32.c
+++ b/src/gui_w32.c
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@
 static TMonitorFromWindow   pMonitorFromWindow = NULL;
 static TGetMonitorInfo	    pGetMonitorInfo = NULL;
 static HANDLE		    user32_lib = NULL;
-#ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
+#ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
 int WSInitialized = FALSE; /* WinSock is initialized */
 #endif
 /*
@@ -5048,12 +5048,14 @@
     SetPixel(s_hdc, x+3, y++, gui.currFgColor);
     SetPixel(s_hdc, x+2, y, gui.currFgColor);
 }
+#endif
 
+#if defined(FEAT_CHANNEL) || defined(PROTO)
 /*
  * Initialize the Winsock dll.
  */
     void
-netbeans_init_winsock()
+channel_init_winsock()
 {
     WSADATA wsaData;
     int wsaerr;
diff --git a/src/macros.h b/src/macros.h
index c4d27f8..ec0cdc3 100644
--- a/src/macros.h
+++ b/src/macros.h
@@ -317,6 +317,6 @@
 # define PLINES_NOFILL(x) plines(x)
 #endif
 
-#if defined(FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG) || defined(FEAT_CLIENTSERVER)
+#if defined(FEAT_CHANNEL) || defined(FEAT_CLIENTSERVER)
 # define MESSAGE_QUEUE
 #endif
diff --git a/src/netbeans.c b/src/netbeans.c
index 2c15227..14f274d 100644
--- a/src/netbeans.c
+++ b/src/netbeans.c
@@ -106,13 +106,7 @@
 # define NB_HAS_GUI (gui.in_use || gui.starting)
 #endif
 
-#ifdef WIN64
-typedef __int64 NBSOCK;
-#else
-typedef int NBSOCK;
-#endif
-
-static NBSOCK nbsock = -1;		/* socket fd for Netbeans connection */
+static sock_T nbsock = -1;		/* socket fd for Netbeans connection */
 #define NETBEANS_OPEN (nbsock != -1)
 
 #ifdef FEAT_GUI_X11
@@ -175,6 +169,7 @@
 
     sock_close(nbsock);
     nbsock = -1;
+    channel_remove_netbeans();
 }
 
 /*
@@ -243,8 +238,7 @@
     if (*params == '=')
     {
 	/* "=fname": Read info from specified file. */
-	if (getConnInfo(params + 1, &hostname, &address, &password)
-								      == FAIL)
+	if (getConnInfo(params + 1, &hostname, &address, &password) == FAIL)
 	    return FAIL;
     }
     else
@@ -312,13 +306,13 @@
 	goto theend;	    /* out of memory */
 
 #ifdef FEAT_GUI_W32
-    netbeans_init_winsock();
+    channel_init_winsock();
 #endif
 
 #ifdef INET_SOCKETS
     port = atoi(address);
 
-    if ((sd = (NBSOCK)socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0)) == (NBSOCK)-1)
+    if ((sd = (sock_T)socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0)) == (sock_T)-1)
     {
 	nbdebug(("error in socket() in netbeans_connect()\n"));
 	PERROR("socket() in netbeans_connect()");
@@ -358,7 +352,7 @@
 	{
 	    sock_close(sd);
 #ifdef INET_SOCKETS
-	    if ((sd = (NBSOCK)socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0)) == (NBSOCK)-1)
+	    if ((sd = (sock_T)socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0)) == (sock_T)-1)
 	    {
 		SOCK_ERRNO;
 		nbdebug(("socket()#2 in netbeans_connect()\n"));
@@ -423,6 +417,7 @@
     }
 
     nbsock = sd;
+    channel_add_netbeans(nbsock);
     vim_snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "AUTH %s\n", password);
     nb_send(buf, "netbeans_connect");
 
@@ -2954,7 +2949,7 @@
 #endif
 
 /*
- * Return TRUE when the netbeans connection is closed.
+ * Return TRUE when the netbeans connection is active.
  */
     int
 netbeans_active(void)
@@ -2962,15 +2957,6 @@
     return NETBEANS_OPEN;
 }
 
-/*
- * Return netbeans file descriptor.
- */
-    int
-netbeans_filedesc(void)
-{
-    return nbsock;
-}
-
 #if defined(FEAT_GUI) || defined(PROTO)
 /*
  * Register our file descriptor with the gui event handling system.
diff --git a/src/os_mswin.c b/src/os_mswin.c
index 698c210..ed7aa83 100644
--- a/src/os_mswin.c
+++ b/src/os_mswin.c
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@
 # ifdef FEAT_OLE
     UninitOLE();
 # endif
-# ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
+# ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
     if (WSInitialized)
     {
 	WSInitialized = FALSE;
diff --git a/src/os_unix.c b/src/os_unix.c
index d2e1c79..0a73c88 100644
--- a/src/os_unix.c
+++ b/src/os_unix.c
@@ -5189,9 +5189,6 @@
     int		*check_for_gpm UNUSED;
 {
     int		ret;
-#ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
-    int		nb_fd = netbeans_filedesc();
-#endif
 #if defined(FEAT_XCLIPBOARD) || defined(USE_XSMP) || defined(FEAT_MZSCHEME)
     static int	busy = FALSE;
 
@@ -5241,7 +5238,7 @@
 # endif
 #endif
 #ifndef HAVE_SELECT
-	struct pollfd   fds[6];
+	struct pollfd   fds[6 + MAX_OPEN_CHANNELS];
 	int		nfd;
 # ifdef FEAT_XCLIPBOARD
 	int		xterm_idx = -1;
@@ -5252,9 +5249,6 @@
 # ifdef USE_XSMP
 	int		xsmp_idx = -1;
 # endif
-# ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
-	int		nb_idx = -1;
-# endif
 	int		towait = (int)msec;
 
 # ifdef FEAT_MZSCHEME
@@ -5306,14 +5300,8 @@
 	    nfd++;
 	}
 # endif
-#ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
-	if (nb_fd != -1)
-	{
-	    nb_idx = nfd;
-	    fds[nfd].fd = nb_fd;
-	    fds[nfd].events = POLLIN;
-	    nfd++;
-	}
+#ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+	nfd = channel_poll_setup(nfd, &fds);
 #endif
 
 	ret = poll(fds, nfd, towait);
@@ -5368,12 +5356,9 @@
 		finished = FALSE;	/* Try again */
 	}
 # endif
-#ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
-	if (ret > 0 && nb_idx != -1 && fds[nb_idx].revents & POLLIN)
-	{
-	    netbeans_read();
-	    --ret;
-	}
+#ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+	if (ret > 0)
+	    ret = channel_poll_check(ret, &fds);
 #endif
 
 
@@ -5462,13 +5447,8 @@
 		maxfd = xsmp_icefd;
 	}
 # endif
-# ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
-	if (nb_fd != -1)
-	{
-	    FD_SET(nb_fd, &rfds);
-	    if (maxfd < nb_fd)
-		maxfd = nb_fd;
-	}
+# ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+	maxfd = channel_select_setup(maxfd, &rfds);
 # endif
 
 	ret = select(maxfd + 1, &rfds, NULL, &efds, tvp);
@@ -5556,12 +5536,9 @@
 	    }
 	}
 # endif
-#ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
-	if (ret > 0 && nb_fd != -1 && FD_ISSET(nb_fd, &rfds))
-	{
-	    netbeans_read();
-	    --ret;
-	}
+#ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+	if (ret > 0)
+	    ret = channel_select_check(ret, &rfds);
 #endif
 
 #endif /* HAVE_SELECT */
diff --git a/src/proto.h b/src/proto.h
index 5f52a31..7a48dc9 100644
--- a/src/proto.h
+++ b/src/proto.h
@@ -209,6 +209,9 @@
 # ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
 #  include "netbeans.pro"
 # endif
+# ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+#  include "channel.pro"
+# endif
 
 # ifdef FEAT_GUI
 #  include "gui.pro"
diff --git a/src/proto/channel.pro b/src/proto/channel.pro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2e9b3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/proto/channel.pro
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+/* channel.c */
+int channel_add_netbeans(sock_T fd);
+void channel_remove_netbeans(void);
+int channel_poll_setup(int nfd_in, void *fds_in);
+int channel_poll_check(int ret_in, void *fds_in);
+int channel_select_setup(int maxfd_in, void *rfds_in);
+int channel_select_check(int ret_in, void *rfds_in);
+/* vim: set ft=c : */
diff --git a/src/proto/netbeans.pro b/src/proto/netbeans.pro
index 7805baf..c7e1f06 100644
--- a/src/proto/netbeans.pro
+++ b/src/proto/netbeans.pro
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 void ex_nbstart(exarg_T *eap);
 void netbeans_beval_cb(BalloonEval *beval, int state);
 int netbeans_active(void);
-int netbeans_filedesc(void);
 void netbeans_gui_register(void);
 void netbeans_open(char *params, int doabort);
 void netbeans_send_disconnect(void);
diff --git a/src/ui.c b/src/ui.c
index f622f04..9bcf80b 100644
--- a/src/ui.c
+++ b/src/ui.c
@@ -1562,7 +1562,7 @@
  * descriptions which would otherwise overflow.  The buffer is considered full
  * when only this extra space (or part of it) remains.
  */
-#if defined(FEAT_SUN_WORKSHOP) || defined(FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG) \
+#if defined(FEAT_SUN_WORKSHOP) || defined(FEAT_CHANNEL) \
 	|| defined(FEAT_CLIENTSERVER)
    /*
     * Sun WorkShop and NetBeans stuff debugger commands into the input buffer.
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 1ea136d..61bc284 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -742,6 +742,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    1169,
+/**/
     1168,
 /**/
     1167,
diff --git a/src/vim.h b/src/vim.h
index 90a5353..e7a5f58 100644
--- a/src/vim.h
+++ b/src/vim.h
@@ -1929,8 +1929,8 @@
 #  ifdef FEAT_OLE
 #   define WM_OLE (WM_APP+0)
 #  endif
-#  ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
-    /* message for Netbeans socket event */
+#  ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+    /* message for channel socket event */
 #   define WM_NETBEANS (WM_APP+1)
 #  endif
 # endif
@@ -1979,6 +1979,14 @@
 # define stat(a,b) (access(a,0) ? -1 : stat(a,b))
 #endif
 
+#ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+# ifdef WIN64
+typedef __int64 sock_T;
+# else
+typedef int sock_T;
+# endif
+#endif
+
 #include "ex_cmds.h"	    /* Ex command defines */
 #include "proto.h"	    /* function prototypes */
 
@@ -2312,4 +2320,10 @@
 # define SET_NO_HLSEARCH(flag) no_hlsearch = (flag)
 #endif
 
+#ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+# define MAX_OPEN_CHANNELS 10
+#else
+# define MAX_OPEN_CHANNELS 0
+#endif
+
 #endif /* VIM__H */