pass optional parameters to require()

Question

so, I have this problem - and when I have a problem with JavaScript or node inevitably it is my coding that is the problem ;)

So at the risk of ridicule, this is the problem:

I have a module that has an optional parameter for config

Using the standard pattern, this is what I have:

module.exports = function(opts){
    return {
        // module instance
    };
}

and in the calling code there is this

var foo = require('bar')({option: value})

if there are no options to pass, the code looks like this

var foo = require('bar')({})

which kinda looks ugly

so, I wanted to do this

var foo = require('bar')

which doesn't work, as the exports is a function call

so, to the meat of the issue

a) is there any way of achieving this lofty goal ? b) is there a better pattern of passing parameters to a module ?

many thanks - and I hope that once the laughter has passed you will be able to send some help my way :)

Answer 1

Instead of removing the function call completely, you could make the options argument options to remove the need for an empty object:

module.exports = function(opts) {
    opts = opts || {};
    return {
        // module instance
    };
}

It doesn't completely remove the need for () but is better than ({}).