diff --git a/tractor/_state.py b/tractor/_state.py
index 0ec4577e..bc12d0de 100644
--- a/tractor/_state.py
+++ b/tractor/_state.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def current_actor(
     return _current_actor
 
 
-def is_main_process() -> bool:
+def is_root_process() -> bool:
     '''
     Bool determining if this actor is running in the top-most process.
 
@@ -111,8 +111,10 @@ def is_main_process() -> bool:
     return mp.current_process().name == 'MainProcess'
 
 
-# TODO, more verby name?
-def debug_mode() -> bool:
+is_main_process = is_root_process
+
+
+def is_debug_mode() -> bool:
     '''
     Bool determining if "debug mode" is on which enables
     remote subactor pdb entry on crashes.
@@ -121,6 +123,9 @@ def debug_mode() -> bool:
     return bool(_runtime_vars['_debug_mode'])
 
 
+debug_mode = is_debug_mode
+
+
 def is_root_process() -> bool:
     return _runtime_vars['_is_root']
 
@@ -173,3 +178,15 @@ TransportProtocolKey = Literal[
     'uds',
 ]
 _def_tpt_proto: TransportProtocolKey = 'tcp'
+
+
+def current_ipc_protos() -> list[str]:
+    '''
+    Return the list of IPC transport protocol keys currently
+    in use by this actor.
+
+    The keys are as declared by `MsgTransport` and `Address`
+    concrete-backend sub-types defined throughout `tractor.ipc`.
+
+    '''
+    return [_def_tpt_proto]