+VLC_EXPORT( vlc_bool_t, __vlc_object_alive, ( vlc_object_t * ) );
+#define vlc_object_alive(a) \
+ __vlc_object_alive( VLC_OBJECT(a) )
+
+VLC_EXPORT( int, __vlc_object_waitpipe, ( vlc_object_t *obj ));
+#define vlc_object_waitpipe(a) \
+ __vlc_object_waitpipe( VLC_OBJECT(a) )
+
+/* NOTE: this function is a *temporary* convenience.
+ * See the vlc_object_alive() documentation for a better alternative.
+ */
+static inline
+vlc_bool_t __vlc_object_lock_and_wait( vlc_object_t *obj )
+{
+ vlc_bool_t b = VLC_TRUE;
+
+ vlc_object_lock( obj );
+ if( vlc_object_alive( obj ) )
+ b = vlc_object_wait( obj );
+ vlc_object_unlock( obj );
+ return b;
+}
+#define vlc_object_lock_and_wait( obj ) \
+ __vlc_object_lock_and_wait( VLC_OBJECT(obj) )
+
+