Module pattern- How to split the code for one module into different js files?

Question

For the module pattern, I'm doing something like:

(function(namespace) {
    // tons of code
    // blabla
})(window.myGlobalNamespace);

How do I split the code? I can think of a few ways, like use a hierachy of namespaces, or expand the object outside by window.myGlobalNamespace.additionalFunc = function () {//blabla}. What are the other ways? What are the pros and cons? Which one is considered better practice?

Both of the two answers suggest RequireJS. Can you please explain how RequireJS can solve these problems:

first.js:

(function(context) {
    var parentPrivate = 'parentPrivate';
})(window.myGlobalNamespace);

second.js:

(function(context) {
    this.childFunction = console.log('trying to access parent private field: ' + parentPriavte);
}(window.myGlobalNamespace.subNamspace);

main.js:

window.myGlobalNamespace.subNamspace.childFunction(); // doesn't work

And people can do

window.myGlobalNamespace.subNamspace.childFunction = function() {alert("a new function");}

to change my code's behaviour!

Here, there are two problems:

1. We can't have a field that's accessible by child but not to outside public (i.e. protected). Is there any way to achieve that?

2. If not, meaning if we wanteparentPrivate to be accessible, we need to make it public. Then the user will be able to modify it!

What's more, all the public functions can be altered and replaced. I don't want that to happen.

I don't see how RequireJS solves these problems. Can someone shed some light?

Answer 1

There are only 2 ways to get JavaScript into HTML:

1. Inline - <script> some JavaScript </script>
2. Link - <script src='main.js'></script>

I know this is obvious but we need that common ground for what comes next. ;)

JavaScript does not have the ability to "import" other JavaScript files into it's self. All the "importing" is done in the HTML. You can do this several ways:

• Link each one individually into the HMTL

• Dynamically link them in through some JavaScript

  var script = document.createElement("script");
  script.src = "all.js";
  document.documentElement.firstChild.appendChild(script);
  

• Library like RequireJS. RequireJS uses Asynchronous Module Definition (AMD) API. It is the JavaScript mechanism for defining modules such that the module and its dependencies can be asynchronously loaded.

It is import to consider reasons for separating JavaScript into separate files.

• Maintainability - it becomes easier to work on one piece at a time
• Readability - if everything is in one big file it is very hard to see what is what
• Division of Labor - it is easier to have multiple developers working on multiple files instead of one big one
• Reuse - all your functions can be broken up into highly cohesive modules

Separate JavaScript files DO NOT make things Private, Closures make things Private.

Now, consider at the end of the day when everything is ready for production the best thing you could do is Optimize your JavaScript by combining it all into one file so that the user only has one file to download.

---

When dealing with Private variables in JavaScript, you will at some point want to access them.

• Public function - can be altered.
• Privileged function - a Public function that can access the Private variable.
• However if the function is in an Instance then it can only be altered in each Object.

Let me illustrate with some code.

module-test.html and main.js (merged first.js, second.js, and main.js for easier testing)

var MODULE = (function () {
	//Private variables
	var privateParent,
	    app;
	
	privateParent = 'parentPrivate';
	
	return app = {
		//Privileged method
		getPrivateParent: function() {
			return privateParent;
		}
	};
}());

MODULE.sub = (function (parentApp) {
	//Private variables
	var childMessage,
	    Constr;
	
	childMessage = ' - trying to access parent private field: ' + parentApp.getPrivateParent();  //prints parentPrivate

	Constr = function () {
		this.childF = this.childFunction();
	};
	
	//Constructor
	Constr.prototype = {
		constructor: MODULE.sub,
		version: "1.0",
		childFunction: function () {
			$("#testing-div").append(childMessage + "</br>");
		}
	};
	return Constr;
	
}(MODULE));
	
//We could just as easily print to the console, but the 'append' allows us to display the results on the page.

$("#testing-div").append("This first part shows what <b>does not work</b>; everything is 'undefined'. " + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("You are unable to access the var or func directly. " + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("MODULE.privateParent = " + MODULE.privateParent + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("MODULE.app = " + MODULE.app + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("MODULE.sub.childMessage = " + MODULE.sub.childMessage + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("MODULE.sub.Constr = " + MODULE.sub.Constr + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("MODULE.sub.childFunction = " + MODULE.sub.childFunction + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("END lesson. You must access childFunction() through the <b>new</b> operator." + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("----------------------------------------------------" + "</br>");
	
$("#testing-div").append("Let's see if making an instance of the Object works" + "</br>");
var test = new MODULE.sub();
test.childFunction(); //run the method
$("#testing-div").append("Looks like it did!!!!" + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("----------------------------------------------------" + "</br>");
	
$("#testing-div").append("Now let's try to change the childFunction() ?" + "</br>");
test.childFunction = function() {$("#testing-div").append(" - This is a new function." + "</br>");}
test.childFunction(); // altered version
$("#testing-div").append("Looks like it was changed. :(" + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("----------------------------------------------------" + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("Does it stay changed?" + "</br>");
var test2 = new MODULE.sub();
test2.childFunction(); // doesn't work
$("#testing-div").append("NO, it was only Overriden in the 'test' Object.  It did not effect all the other new objects. :)" + "</br>");
$("#testing-div").append("----------------------------------------------------" + "</br>");

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="ISO-8859-1">
<title>Module Test</title>
<!-- 	<script data-main="scripts/main" src="scripts/require.js"></script> -->
</head>
<body>
    <h1>This is a test for separate Modules and Private variables.</h1>
    <div id="testing-div">
    </div>
    <script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
    <script src="main.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

---

If you want to use RequireJS to accomplish the above, you can. RequireJS uses the Module Pattern which is what you and I are already using. If you want to separate out the files then there are two ways to do this.

1. Normal - Just set up your JS files to use RequireJS and drop in the above Modules with only a slight modification.
2. Leveraged - Use the Module nature of RequireJS as the modules to set up the closures. This looks like it may be harder to figure out but it may be more efficient in the long run.

NOTE: I haven't had a chance to compare these two options yet but wanted to include them for completeness.

---

You may find the following references helpful:

• JavaScript Module Pattern: In-Depth
• Private Members in JavaScript