jQuery plugin boilerplate

jquery.plugin.js

// make sure our browser supports creating new objects:
if ( typeof Object.create !== 'function' ) {
    Object.create = function (o) {
        function F(){}
        F.prototype = o;
        return new F();
    };
}

/**
 * create a new jQuery Plugin function for use later on.
 * @param pluginNamespace - [string] - this is the namespace of the plugin that $.data() will attach to the root node of the plugin, 
                            as well as being the name of the plugin function you'll use to create an instance
 * @param pluginClass - [object literal] - this is the "class" of methods etc that comprise the plugin
 * @NOTE: this is not the same as instantiating your instance.  
 *        You MUST still call $(selector).pluginNamespace(); (with your actual plugin name)
 * @NOTE: This must come after object.create is stubbed for IE8 or this plugin infrastructure will not work for that browser.
 */
myNamespace.plugin = function ( pluginNamespace, pluginClass ) {
    
    "use strict";
    
    jQuery.fn[ pluginNamespace ] = function( options ) {
    
        // a sprinkle of error handling....
        if ( options && "object" !== typeof options ) {
            jQuery.error('options passed to ' + pluginNamespace + ' must be an object');
        }
    
        return this.each( function () {
        
            var pluginInstance = Object.create( pluginClass );
            pluginInstance.init( this, options || {} );
            
            // save a pointer to the instance 
            // in the data of the DOM element it was instantiated on (this)
            jQuery.data(this, pluginNamespace, pluginInstance);
        
        });
    
    };
};