gistfile1.js

YAST = {}; //the one global object

YAST.modules = {
  // data will be pulled from JSON:
  // group
  // |
  // - section
  //    |
  //    - item
  
  'data': {},
//  'gotData': false,
  
  'readJSON': function(uri) {
    //var callback = callback || function(){};
    var that = this;
    
    //HERE
    $.getJSON(uri, function (data) {
      that.data = data;
      //now I wish to call render() and pass the result to who called me wth return, but that ends up HERE
      return that.render();
    });
  },
  
  'render': function () {
    var html = [],
    data = this.data;
    //console.log(data);
    
    
    $.each(data, function (group, sections) {
      html.push('<h1>', group, '</h1>');
    });
  
    return html.join('');
  },
  
  'debug': function () {
    console.info(this);
  }
};

//this ends up blank, as readJSON() won't return anything
'$container.html(YAST.modules.readJSON('inc/fake-data.js'));