SocketioModel.js: Example of a backbone.js model enabled with socketio rather than "ajax". Very basic and not supporting the full backbone API.

SocketioModel.js

var SocketioModel = Backbone.Model.extend({
    //
    constructor: function (attributes, options) {
        options || (options = {});
        if (options.socket) this.socket = options.socket;
        if (options.controller) this.controller = options.controller;
        if (options.model_id) this.id = options.model_id;

        Backbone.Model.apply(this, arguments);
    },
    //
    request: function (method, options) {
        socketRequest(this.socket, method, {
            ns: this.url(),
            id: this.id
            }, options);
    },
    //
    sync: function (method, model, options) {
        var self = this,
            success;

        if (method == "read") {
            success = function (data) {
                self.set(data);
                if (options.success) {
                    options.success(model, null, options);
                }
            }
        }

        socketRequest(this.socket, method, {
            ns: model.url(),
            id: this.id,
            data: this.changed
            }, {
            success: success
        });
    },
    // Watch the model and receive a "change" event when updated.
    watch: function (options) {
        var self = this;

        // Join on inintialize. This can probably be moved elsewhere.
        socketRequest(this.socket, 'watch', {
            id: this.id
        },{
            success: function(data) {
                self.socket.on("change",
                    function (data) {
                        // console.log("Model change", data);
                        self.set(data);
                    }
                );
            }
        });
    }
});