+#define vlc_list_children(a) \
+ __vlc_list_children( VLC_OBJECT(a) )
+
+/* Objects and threading */
+VLC_EXPORT( void, __vlc_object_lock, ( vlc_object_t * ) );
+#define vlc_object_lock( obj ) \
+ __vlc_object_lock( VLC_OBJECT( obj ) )
+
+VLC_EXPORT( void, __vlc_object_unlock, ( vlc_object_t * ) );
+#define vlc_object_unlock( obj ) \
+ __vlc_object_unlock( VLC_OBJECT( obj ) )
+
+VLC_EXPORT( void, __vlc_object_wait, ( vlc_object_t * ) );
+#define vlc_object_wait( obj ) \
+ __vlc_object_wait( VLC_OBJECT( obj ) )
+
+VLC_EXPORT( void, __vlc_object_signal_unlocked, ( vlc_object_t * ) );
+#define vlc_object_signal_unlocked( obj ) \
+ __vlc_object_signal_unlocked( VLC_OBJECT( obj ) )
+
+static inline void __vlc_object_signal( vlc_object_t *obj )
+{
+ vlc_object_lock( obj );
+ vlc_object_signal_unlocked( obj );
+ vlc_object_unlock( obj );
+}
+#define vlc_object_signal( obj ) \
+ __vlc_object_signal( VLC_OBJECT( obj ) )
+
+VLC_EXPORT( void, __vlc_object_kill, ( vlc_object_t * ) );
+#define vlc_object_kill(a) \
+ __vlc_object_kill( VLC_OBJECT(a) )
+
+static inline bool __vlc_object_alive (const vlc_object_t *obj)
+{
+ barrier ();
+ return !obj->b_die;
+}
+
+#define vlc_object_alive(a) \
+ __vlc_object_alive( VLC_OBJECT(a) )