4 files changed, 22 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/doc/lispref/ChangeLog b/doc/lispref/ChangeLog
index bd92b2a7273..83cee10f899 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/ChangeLog
+++ b/doc/lispref/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2011-05-31  Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen  <larsi@gnus.org>
+
+        * processes.texi (Process Information): Document
+        `process-alive-p'.
+
 2011-05-29  Chong Yidong  <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
 
         * help.texi (Accessing Documentation):
diff --git a/doc/lispref/processes.texi b/doc/lispref/processes.texi
index 1a1b63683ce..2284699c82b 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/processes.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/processes.texi
@@ -859,6 +859,12 @@ For a network connection, @code{process-status} returns one of the symbols
 closed the connection, or Emacs did @code{delete-process}.
 @end defun
 
+@defun process-alive-p process
+This function returns nin-@code{nil} if @var{process} is alive.  A
+process is considered alive if its status is @code{run}, @code{open},
+@code{listen}, @code{connect} or @code{stop}.
+@end defun
+
 @defun process-type process
 This function returns the symbol @code{network} for a network
 connection or server, @code{serial} for a serial port connection, or
diff --git a/lisp/ChangeLog b/lisp/ChangeLog
index 0070f3a3945..384a30cb7cd 100644
--- a/lisp/ChangeLog
+++ b/lisp/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+2011-05-31  Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen  <larsi@gnus.org>
+
+        * subr.el (process-alive-p): New tiny convenience function.
+
 2011-05-31  Stefan Monnier  <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>
 
         * emacs-lisp/debug.el (debug): Save&restore not just the buffer's
diff --git a/lisp/subr.el b/lisp/subr.el
index 4fe9987b95b..08099dc1fdd 100644
--- a/lisp/subr.el
+++ b/lisp/subr.el
@@ -1805,6 +1805,13 @@ Signal an error if the program returns with a non-zero exit status."
           (forward-line 1))
         (nreverse lines)))))
 
+(defun process-alive-p (process)
+  "Returns non-nil if PROCESS is alive.
+A process is considered alive if its status is `run', `open',
+`listen', `connect' or `stop'."
+  (memq (process-status process)
+        '(run open listen connect stop)))
+
 ;; compatibility
 
 (make-obsolete