Should I add "use strict" to my meteor files?

Question

In javascript development running your code in strict mode by adding:

"use strict";

To the beginning of your functions is a common best practice. However I have yet to see anyone do so in a meteor application.

Does this best practice not apply to Meteor?

Maybe because it sets strict mode on a higher level? I know that node can be run with the --use-strict command line parameter to enforce this. But I do not know of a way to do the same in the client.

Answer 1

There are two options that I know, if you want to 'use strict' at the top of your Meteor files.

The first is to define a global variable like APP in one of your top Meteor files (and not in strict mode), then use it to namespace all of your previously global variables:

// first file
APP = {};

// later file
'use strict';

APP.Stuff = new Mongo.Collection('stuff');
APP.Stuff.find({});

The second method is to create a global alias in that first file:

// first file
G = this;

// second file
'use strict';

G.Stuff = new Mongo.Collection('stuff');
Stuff.find({});

The benefit of the latter is that you don't need to type App.- every time you want to use your "global" references—they still work as globals, and you only need to use G.- once—for your declarations.