2 files changed, 11 insertions, 0 deletions

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