Predictable sync vs. async in Node.js

sync-async.js

var i = 0;

maybeSyncMaybeAsync(function(){
	i++;
});

console.log("The value of i is", i);

@AdamPflug Right. The point was to demonstrate how an unpredictable API can cause issues, with an example that's as simple as possible to follow - whether this example can be changed isn't relevant, it's intentionally kept simple.

"Changing the order of statements" is not always possible, and sometimes simply incorrect. That's why it's so important to have a predictable API.

to make this into a runnable example - async and sync versions of the function could be added -

//First try this
//This is asynchronous execution of the callback
function maybeSyncMaybeAsync(cb) {
        process.nextTick(cb);
}

/*
//Then try this definition
//This is synchronous
function maybeSyncMaybeAsync(cb) {
        cb();
}
*/