Add the tiny convenience function `process-alive-p'.

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):

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

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

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