How do I get global scope inside define function?

Question

Can you get global scope while using strict mode and also making sure that you can run on non window environment.

See these examples:

define(['other', 'thing'], function() {
    // this === window in desktop environment
    // this === GLOBAL in node environment
});
define(['other', 'thing'], function() {
    "use strict";
    // this === undefined in desktop environment
    // this === GLOBAL in node environment
    // As of my understanding node has to be configured using `node --use_strict`
    // (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9031888/any-way-to-force-strict-mode-in-node)
    // But that not the point.
});

Is there any way to get the global variable (window/GLOBAL) inside define.

Answer 1

var global = Function("return this")();

If you don't have access to Function, then also try

var Function = function(){}.constructor,
    global = Function("return this")();

Answer 2

This may or may not help, but I did come up with a way to override the context of requirejs modules using the following code...

require.s.contexts._.execCb = function(name, callback, args) {
    return callback.apply(/* your context here */, args);
};

Again, not sure if that'll help with use strict and all, but who knows... :)

https://gist.github.com/jcreamer898/5685754

Answer 3

What i have come op with so far:

(function(root) { // Here root refers to global scope
    define('mything', ['other', 'thing'], function() {

    });
}(this);

But then I can't use r.js to minify my application.

And another could be to check what to use:

define(['other', 'thing'], function() {
    var root = typeof GLOBAL != 'undefined' ? GLOBAL : window;
});

Yet another way it to define a global file which returns the global:

global.js:

define(function() {
    return typeof GLOBAL != 'undefined' ? GLOBAL : window;
});

mything.js

define(['global', 'other', 'thing'], function(root) {
    // root === window/GLOBAL
});

But I don't like these way because what if some 3. global variable is introduced this will break, or if the user in a browser environment defines GLOBAL then that will be returned.

I would like to see if anyone have come up with a smarter way.

Answer 4

What if you stored the window reference on another universally accessible object, such as Object.prototype or something along those lines?

Answer 5

This is what I usually do (it works for browsers, node.js and RingoJS - even in strict mode):

if (!global) var global = this;

define(['other', 'thing'], function() {
    // use global
});

define(['other', 'thing'], function() {
    "use strict";
    // use global
});

Read the following StackOverflow thread for more details: Defining an implementation independent version of the global object in JavaScript