ivy.el (ivy-word-at-point-dwim): new function.

counsel.el: use ivy-word-at-point-dwim as a default
for ivy-initial-inputs-alist for grep-like commands.

counsel.el

@@ -5048,6 +5048,12 @@ Local bindings (`counsel-mode-map'):
     (when (fboundp 'advice-remove)
       (advice-remove #'describe-bindings #'counsel-descbinds))))
 
+(dolist (cmd ivy-highlight-grep-commands)
+  (add-to-list 'ivy-initial-inputs-alist
+               (cons cmd 'ivy-word-at-point-dwim)
+               nil
+               (lambda (cell1 cell2) (eq (car cell1) (car cell2)))))
+
 (provide 'counsel)
 
 ;;; counsel.el ends here

ivy.el

@@ -4424,6 +4424,20 @@ EVENT gives the mouse position."
                                 (expand-file-name "doc/ivy-help.org"))))
   "The file for `ivy-help'.")
 
+(defun ivy-word-at-point-dwim ()
+  "Extracts a meaningful part of the current buffer.
+
+This function tries to DWIM. It either uses the beginning of the region if acivated, or the current word.
+
+It is destined to be used as a cdr in `ivy-initial-inputs-alist'."
+  (cond ((and transient-mark-mode mark-active)
+         (let* ((beg (region-beginning))
+                (end (region-end))
+                (eol (save-excursion (goto-char beg) (line-end-position))))
+           (buffer-substring-no-properties beg (min end eol))))
+        (t
+         (current-word))))
+
 (defun ivy-help ()
   "Help for `ivy'."
   (interactive)