gistfile1.js

  // jQuery barfs because $(empty).data("autocomplete") => undefined
  $(".course-autocomplete").autocomplete({
    source: "/courses/autocomplete.json"
  }).data("autocomplete")._renderItem = function(ul, item) {
    return $("<li>")
      .data("item.autocomplete", item)
      .append("<a>" + item.name + "</a>")
      .appendTo(ul);
  };


  // jQuery likes but my fingers don't
  $(".course-autocomplete").autocomplete({
    source: "/courses/autocomplete.json"
  });
  if ($(".course-autocomplete").length) {
    $(".course-autocomplete").data("autocomplete")._renderItem = function(ul, item) {
      return $("<li>")
        .data("item.autocomplete", item)
        .append("<a>" + item.name + "</a>")
        .appendTo(ul);
    }
  };

  // Acceptable compromise?
  $(".course-autocomplete").autocomplete({
    source: "/courses/autocomplete.json"
  }).each(function(i,elem) {
    $(elem).data("autocomplete")._renderItem = function(ul, item) {
      return $("<li>")
        .data("item.autocomplete", item)
        .append("<a>" + item.name + "</a>")
        .appendTo(ul);
    }
  });