a small module for autorequiring. warning: MAGIC!

README.md

autorequire.js

Copyright (c) 2011 Jed Schmidt

a small module for auto-importing modules in node.js.

usage

require( "./autorequire" )
require.auto( <module-name> )

background

autorequire.js is for the terminally lazy. it turns boilerplate code like this:

http = require( 'http' );
https = require( 'https' );
url = require( 'url' );
path = require( 'path' );
util = require( 'util' );
crypto = require( 'crypto' );

into this:

http, https, url, path, util, crypto;

it does this by wrapping your module in a closure, like this:

!function( http, https, url, path, util, crypto ) {
  
  // your original code here
  
}.apply( this, [ 'http', 'https', 'url', 'path', 'util', 'crypto' ].map( require ) )

basically, it attempts to load your module repeatedly, adding a new argument to the list every time a not_defined error is thrown. once all your symbols are there, it compiles and executes the module.

this module was born from a (fab) brainstorm, and is a prototype not really meant for serious use. that said, if you think it could be useful and would like me to npm it, lemme know.

autorequire.js

var fs = require( "fs" )

require.auto = function( name ) {
  var path = require.resolve( name )
    , data = fs.readFileSync( path, "utf8" )
    
  return function autorequire() {
    var args = [].slice.call( arguments )
      , fn = Function.apply( Function, args )
      , ret = [
          "!",
          fn,
          ".apply( this, ",
          JSON.stringify( args.slice( 0, -1 ) ),
          ".map( require ) )"
        ].join( "" )
        
    try { ret = module._compile( ret, path ) }
  
    catch( e ) {
      if ( e.type != "not_defined" ) throw e
  
      args.splice( -1, 0, e.arguments[ 0 ] )
      return autorequire.apply( this, args )
    }
    
    return ret
  }( data )
}

test.js

// using `require` on this file will throw a `not_defined` error
// using `require.auto` on this file will work as expected

// declare these anywhere in the first tick
assert, repl, url;

assert.equal( assert, require( "assert" ) )

assert.equal(
  url.parse( "http://nodejs.org" ).hostname,
  "nodejs.org"
)

repl.start( "> " )