backbone._super.js

// Forked/modified from: https://gist.github.com/maxbrunsfeld/1542120
// This method gives you an easier way of calling super when you're using Backbone in plain javascript.
// It lets you avoid writing the constructor's name multiple times.
// You still have to specify the name of the method.
//
// So, instead of having to write:
//
//    var Animal = Backbone.Model.extend({
//        word: "",
//        say: function() {
//            return "I say " + this.word;
//        }
//    });
//    var Cow = Animal.extend({
//        word: "moo",
//        say: function() {
//            return Animal.prototype.say.apply(this, arguments) + "!!!"
//        }
//    });
//
//
// You get to write:
//
//    var Animal = Backbone.Model.extend({
//        word: "",
//        say: function() {
//            return "I say " + this.word;
//        }
//    });
//    var Cow = Animal.extend({
//        word: "moo",
//        say: function() {
//            return this._super("say", arguments) + "!!!"
//        }
//    });

(function(root, factory) {
    if (typeof define === "function" && define.amd) {
        define(["underscore", "backbone"], function(_, Backbone) {
            return factory(Backbone);
        });
    }
    else if (typeof exports !== "undefined") {
        var _ = require("underscore");
        var Backbone = require("backbone");
        module.exports = factory(_, Backbone);
    }
    else {
        factory(root._, root.Backbone);
    }
}(this, function(_, Backbone) {
    "use strict";

    // Finds the next object up the prototype chain that has a different implementation of the method.
    var findSuper = function(methodName, childObject) {
        var object = childObject;
        while (object[methodName] === childObject[methodName]) {
            object = object.constructor.__super__;
        }
        return object;
    };

    var _super = function(methodName) {
        // Keep track of how far up the prototype chain we have traversed, in order to handle nested calls to `_super`.
        this.__superCallObjects__ || (this.__superCallObjects__ = {});
        var currentObject = this.__superCallObjects__[methodName] || this;
        var parentObject  = findSuper(methodName, currentObject);
        this.__superCallObjects__[methodName] = parentObject;

        // If `methodName` is a function, call it with `this` as the context and `args` as the arguments, if it's an object, simply return it.
        var args = _.tail(arguments);
        var result = (_.isFunction(parentObject[methodName])) ? parentObject[methodName].apply(this, args) : parentObject[methodName];
        delete this.__superCallObjects__[methodName];
        return result;
    };

    // Mix in to Backbone classes
    _.each(["Model", "Collection", "View", "Router"], function(klass) {
        Backbone[klass].prototype._super = _super;
    });

    return Backbone;
}));