diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index 4cbd46f..53f231b 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -819,40 +819,7 @@ class Application(object):
         slot = self.bufferlist.slots[slotname]
         if slot.window is None:
             return
-
-        w      = slot.window
-        b      = w.buffer
-        cursor = w.logical_cursor()
-        first  = w.first
-        last   = w.last
-
-        if b.readonly():
-            if b.changed():
-                modflag = '%*'
-            else:
-                modflag = '%%'
-        else:
-            if b.changed():
-                modflag = '**'
-            else:
-                modflag = '--'
-
-        if w.mark:
-            mark = w.mark
-        else:
-            mark = Point(-1, -1)
-        name = b.name()
-
-        if w.first_is_visible():
-            perc = "Top"
-        elif w.last_is_visible():
-            perc = "Bot"
-        else:
-            perc = "%2d%%" % (first.y*100 / len(b.lines))
-
-        # XYZ: we should actually use more of the 'state' variables
-        format = "%s  %-18s  (%s)--L%d--C%d--%s"
-        status = format % (modflag, name, w.mode.name(), cursor.y+1, cursor.x+1, perc)
+        status = slot.window.mode.get_status_bar()
         status = status.ljust(slot.width)[:slot.width]
         self.win.addstr(slot.height + slot.y_offset, 0, status, curses.A_REVERSE)
 
diff --git a/mode/__init__.py b/mode/__init__.py
index d0d1703..7aca4f4 100644
--- a/mode/__init__.py
+++ b/mode/__init__.py
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ class Fundamental(Handler):
     config     = {}
     actions    = []
     completers = {}
+    format     = "%(flag)s  %(bname)-18s  (%(mname)s)  %(cursor)s/%(mark)s  %(perc)s"
 
     # margin/line numbering
     show_line_numbers = False
@@ -254,6 +255,47 @@ class Fundamental(Handler):
     def name(self):
         return self.modename
 
+    def _get_flag(self):
+        b = self.window.buffer
+        if b.readonly():
+            if b.changed():
+                return '%*'
+            else:
+                return '%%'
+        else:
+            if b.changed():
+                return '**'
+            else:
+                return '--'
+    def _get_perc(self):
+        w = self.window
+        if w.first_is_visible():
+            return "Top"
+        elif w.last_is_visible():
+            return "Bot"
+        else:
+            return "%2d%%" % (w.first.y*100 / len(w.buffer.lines))
+    def _get_mark(self):
+        w = self.window
+        if w.mark:
+            return '(%d,%d)' % (w.mark.y + 1, w.mark.x + 1)
+        else:
+            return '(None)'
+    def get_status_names(self):
+        w = self.window
+        c = w.logical_cursor()
+        return {
+            'bname':  w.buffer.name(),
+            'mname':  self.name(),
+            'flag':   self._get_flag(),
+            'perc':   self._get_perc(),
+            'cursor': '(%d,%d)' % (c.y + 1, c.x + 1),
+            'mark':   self._get_mark(),
+        }
+    def get_status_bar(self):
+        names = self.get_status_names()
+        return self.format % names
+
     # handle input tokens
     def handle_token(self, t):
         '''self.handle_token(token): handles input "token"'''
diff --git a/mode/perl.py b/mode/perl.py
index f43264c..0868fc7 100644
--- a/mode/perl.py
+++ b/mode/perl.py
@@ -688,6 +688,20 @@ class Perl(mode.Fundamental):
     completers = {
         'perlfunction': PerlFunctionCompleter(),
     }
+    format = "%(flag)s  %(bname)-18s  (%(mname)s)  %(cursor)s/%(mark)s  %(perc)s  [%(func)s]"
+    def get_status_names(self):
+        w = self.window
+        c = w.logical_cursor()
+        names = {
+            'bname':  w.buffer.name(),
+            'mname':  self.name(),
+            'flag':   self._get_flag(),
+            'perc':   self._get_perc(),
+            'cursor': '(%d,%d)' % (c.y + 1, c.x + 1),
+            'mark':   self._get_mark(),
+            'func':   self.get_line_function(c.y),
+        }
+        return names
     def __init__(self, w):
         mode.Fundamental.__init__(self, w)
         self.add_bindings('perl-set-lib', ('C-c l',))