Dec
22

Javascript – One line global + export

vjeux Javascript 2011-12-22

I've been working on code that works on Browser, Web Workers and NodeJS. In order to export my module, I've been writing ugly code like this one:

(function () {
  /* ... Code that defines MyModule ... */
 
  var all;
  if (typeof self !== 'undefined') {
    all = self; // Web Worker
  } else if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
    all = window; // Browser
  } else if (typeof global !== 'undefined') {
    all = global; // NodeJS
  }
  all.MyModule = MyModule;
 
  if (typeof module !== 'undefined') {
    module.exports = MyModule;
  }
})();

One-line Solution

Guillaume Marty showed me that sink.js uses this as a replacement for self, window and global. I managed to add support for module.exports in a one-liner!

(function (global) {
  /* ... Code that defines MyModule ... */
 
  global.MyModule = (global.module || {}).exports = MyModule;
})(this);

I have been looking for this magic line for a long time, I hope it will be useful to you too :)

If you liked this article, you might be interested in my Twitter feed as well.
 
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  • Nico

    The pitfall (or the advantage, depends on what your primary intention was) in your solution is that you assume that your parameter "this" will be the global object.
    Which he may not be depending on the context.
    Your code will be more robust if you retrieve the global object this way :

    global = (function(){ return this || (1,eval)('this') })();

    I suggest you may read this article :
    http://perfectionkills.com/unnecessarily-comprehensive-look-into-a-rather-insignificant-issue-of-global-objects-creation/

    Joyeux noël !
    Nico.

  • Vjeux .

    My goal isn't to have a bullet-proof version involving weird tricks such as indirect eval calls but something that work under normal conditions for Browser, WebWorkers and NodeJS.

    Thanks for the link, re-reading it from times to times can't harm :)

 

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