badMove.js

/**
 * Structure of an alloy controller
 **/
function Controller() {
	var $ = this;
}

module.exports = Controller;

/**
 * CommonJS has a global object called "exports".  If you put
 * it inside the Alloy controller (see below) then it doesn't exists until
 * you call the controller, then it will exist OUTSIDE the controller function
 * making it static / singleton
 */
function Controller(_args) {
	var $ = this;
	exports.myThing = _args.something;
}

module.exports = Controller;

/**
 * This is essentially the same thing as
 */
exports.myThing;

function Controller(_args) {
	var $ = this;
	exports.myThing = _args.something;
}

module.exports = Controller;

/**
 * now exports.myThing is static and everytime you change it in this controller, it's changed
 * for all controller instances.  Bad move.  Always use $.myThing in an Alloy controller.
 */