Backbone base view with Handlebars template rendering and nested view support.

base.js

App.Views.Base = Backbone.View.extend({
  templateName: null,
  model: null,

  render: function(options){
    var data;

    if(this.templateName !== null){
      if(this.model !== null){
        data = this.model.toJSON()
      }else{
        data = {}
      }
      this.$el.html(Handlebars.templates[this.templateName](data))
    }

    this.renderNested();

    return this.$el;
  },

  renderNested: function() {
    var me = this,
      config, options;

    if(this.nested){
      _.each(this.nested, function(config, viewName, nested){
        options = config.options;

        // instantiate model definition if provided
        if(options.model){
          options.model = new options.model();
        }
        // instantiate the view instance with options
        me[viewName] = new config.constructor(options);
        // render the view to the target
        me.$el.find(config.target).html(me[viewName].render());

        // register events in the nested view
        _.each(config.events, function(callbackName, eventName, list){
          me[viewName].on(eventName, me[callbackName], me);
        });
      });
    }
  }
});

// A nested view configuration example
var TopLevel = Backbone.View.extend({
  tagName: 'div'

  nested: {
    form: {
      target: '.form-container',
      constructor: Views.Form,
      options: {
        model: Models.Form
      },
      // events we want registered on the nested view,
      // and handled on this view
      events: {
        'submit': 'onSubmit'
      }
    }
  },

  onSubmit: function(){}
});