Emacs function to message the python function I'm in

Question

I'm editing some Python code with rather long functions and decided it would be useful to quickly get the function name without scrolling up. I put this bit of code together to do it. Is there something built in to emacs in general, or the standard python mode in particular, which I can use instead?

(defun python-show-function-name()
  "Message the name of the function the point is in"
  (interactive)
  (save-excursion
    (beginning-of-defun)
    (message (format "%s" (thing-at-point 'line)))))

Answer 1

C-c C-u (py-goto-block-up) might be what you want.

Answer 2

You may find decent results with which-function-mode:

Which Function mode is a minor mode that displays the current function name in the mode line, updating it as you move around in a buffer.

To either enable or disable Which Function mode, use the command M-x which-function-mode. This command is global; it applies to all buffers, both existing ones and those yet to be created. However, it takes effect only in certain major modes, those listed in the value of which-func-modes. If the value is t, then Which Function mode applies to all major modes that know how to support it—in other words, all the major modes that support Imenu.

Although I see it getting a little confused in one Python file that I have here...

Answer 3

Did you try py-beginning-of-def-or-class?

(defun python-show-function-name()
  "Message the name of the function the point is in"
  (interactive)
  (save-excursion
    (py-beginning-of-def-or-class)
    (message (format "%s" (thing-at-point 'line)))))

I find it gives me better results than your beginning-of-defun, but if that's not the problem you're having, then maybe I'm just seeing another symptom of the cause of the wonkiness in my other answer.