Question

Google Closure library provides export symbols option to provide access to constructors through window object.

ex: export task will allows doing window.task

BUT this is totally far from Google closure library. I am using Backbone.js to construct a task application. My views,models, routers and split up in many files and i follow the above process to assign the instance, source to window object so that one can access another.

• How can i access models, views, routers for a single application not through window? What tricks, tips have you employed to make them kind of sandboxed

Answer 1

You will almost always have to have at least one thing exposed in the window.

But, you can use namespaces to help out.

// app.js
var App = App || {};
App.Views = App.Views || {};
App.Models = App.Models || {};

App.Views.HomeView = Backbone.View.extend({});
App.Model.User = Backbone.Model.extend({});

The only case in which you won’t necessarily is if you are using requireJS.

// app.js
define(['views/home'], function (home) {
    var home = new home({
        el: '#home'
    });
});
// views/home.js
define(['backbone'], function (Backbone) {
    var home = Backbone.View.extend({});
    return home;        
});

Although, I suppose if you REALLY wanted to, you could do everything inside of a Self Executing Function.

(function ($, Backbone) {
    // Do your stuff here instead?.
    // Just keep in mind, nothing you do in here will be available outside.
    var home = Backbone.View.extend({});
    new home(); // Works...
}(jQuery, Backbone);
new home(); // FAIL!

The only problem with that is anything you do inside of the function is not available outside of it.

Let me know if you have any questions on any implementations.