CODEWITHSUNDEEP
meteor
mpen
mpen

Reputation: 283335

Meteor helper methods

I want to write some helper functions that I can use in my other JavaScript files.

It says here:

Some JavaScript libraries only work when placed in the client/compatibility subdirectory. Files in this directory are executed without being wrapped in a new variable scope.

It seems a bit bizarre to me that I should have to throw all my libraries in a folder called compatibility. Generally "compatible" stuff is for legacy code that hasn't been upgraded to the new style. Is there no way to export modules so that I can access them in my other files?

Using this pattern now:

Util = (function(exports) {
    exports.getFileExtension = function(filename) {
        var i = filename.lastIndexOf('.');
        return (i < 0) ? '' : filename.substr(i);
    };

   // more functions

    return exports;
})(typeof Util !== 'undefined' ? Util : {});

Not sure if that's the best or not...but it appears to work.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 725

Answers (2)

SoSufi
SoSufi

Reputation: 93

If the intention is to write Utility method then it can be written using the ECMA6 Script standard.

Write your method by exporting once in method.js and use it by importing in the desired file(s)

Ex: export const MyUtilityMethod = function (){...} in /method.js

import {MyUtilityMethod} from './method.js'

Hope this helps.

Upvotes: 0

Jim Mack
Jim Mack

Reputation: 1437

It would be bizarre, you are right. Write your own code, just put it somewhere and it works. This refers to complicated frameworks that make a lot of functions all over the place, where no one has 'tamed' them to only expose a root object that all its powers spring from.

Please read "Namespacing and Modules" at http://www.meteor.com/blog/2013/08/14/meteor-065-namespacing-modularity-new-build-system-source-maps

It's helping you with built in maintainability for avoiding collisions with other things you write, which is largely what namespaces is for.

A good practice is to have your own helper object, named helper or util, where you put grouped things:

utils = {
  distance_between: function(lat1,lng1,lat2,lng2) {
      var radiusEarth = 3963.1676; // miles radius earth
      var dLat = deg2rad(lat2-lat1);  // deg2rad below
...
  displayHumanReadableTime: function(timestamp){
    var a = new Date(timestamp);

Upvotes: 3

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