node-packages is require.js for node.js.

Motification

• Flattens & simplifies application structure.
• Better encapsulation.
• More consistent.

Example

- package.json - application package
- lib/ - javascript source files
  - index.js - main entry point
    - packages/ - application components
      - config/ - application config component
      - http.server/ - http server component
        - index.js   - package entry point
      - http.routes/ - http routes
        - index.js   

In lib/index.js, you'll need something like:

1var packages = require("packages");
2
3packages.
4require(__dirname + "/packages").
5load();

In http.server/index.js, you might have something like:

1exports.require = ["express", "config"];
2exports.load = function (express, config) {
3  var app = express()
4  app.listen(config.get("port"));
5  return app;
6};

In http.routes/index.js, you might have something like:

1exports.require = ["http.server"];
2exports.load = function (app) {
3  app.get("/hello", function (req, res) {
4    res.send("Hello World!");
5  });
6};

Packages API

packages packages()

Initializes new packages loader

packages.add(name, package)

Adds a package. Below's an example where this might be useful.

lib/index.js:

1var packages = require("packages");
2
3module.exports = function (config) {
4  packages.
5  add("config", config).
6  require(__dirname + "/packages").
7  load();
8}

lib/packages/http.server/index.js:

1exports.require = ["config"];
2exports.load = function(config) {
3  //init server
4}

packages.require(path[, path])

loads packages from a directory

packages.load()

loads all the packages

packages.exports

all the loaded packages

Package API

1exports.require = [ "package.name", ["multiple.packages.*"], /package.to.match/ ];
2exports.load    = function (singlePackage, multiplePackages, anotherSinglePackage, optionalSyncNext) {
3  
4};