Backbone.Wreqr
A simple infrastructure based on [messaging patterns](http://www.eaipatterns.com/)
and service bus implementations for decoupling [Backbone](http://backbonejs.org)
and [Backbone.Marionette](http://marionettejs.com) applications.
**Notice:** In the next major release of Marionette, v3, Wreqr will be swapped for an updated library,
[Radio](https://github.com/jmeas/backbone.radio). If you've already begun using Wreqr, don't worry. This change
isn't for quite some time: a few months, at the earliest. Also, we will support easily swapping the two libraries,
so you won't run into any problems if you decide to continue using Wreqr.
For an introduction to Radio, check out
[our blog post](http://marionettejs.github.io/2014/07/11/introducing-backbone-radio/index.html). As of Marionette v2.1, you can easily
swap in Radio for Wreqr with [this shim](https://gist.github.com/jmeas/7992474cdb1c5672d88b). We think you'll really like the changes!
## Downloads And Source
Grab the source from the `src` folder above. Grab the most recent builds
from the links below.
### Standard Builds
* Development: [backbone.wreqr.js](https://raw.github.com/marionettejs/backbone.wreqr/master/lib/backbone.wreqr.js)
* Production: [backbone.wreqr.min.js](https://raw.github.com/marionettejs/backbone.wreqr/master/lib/backbone.wreqr.min.js)
## Basic Use
### Event Aggregator
An event aggregator implementation. It extends from `Backbone.Events` to
provide the core event handling code in an object that can itself be
extended and instantiated as needed.
```js
var vent = new Backbone.Wreqr.EventAggregator();
vent.on("foo", function(){
console.log("foo event");
});
vent.trigger("foo");
```
### Commands And Request / Response
Wreqr can be used by instantiating a `Backbone.Wreqr.Commands`
or `Backbone.Wreqr.RequestResponse` object. These objects provide a
`setHandler` method to add a handler for a named request or command.
Commands can then be executed with the `execute` method, and
request/response can be done through the `request` method.
### Commands
```js
var commands = new Backbone.Wreqr.Commands();
commands.setHandler("foo", function(){
console.log("the foo command was executed");
});
commands.execute("foo");
```
### Request/Response
```js
var reqres = new Backbone.Wreqr.RequestResponse();
reqres.setHandler("foo", function(){
return "foo requested. this is the response";
});
var result = reqres.request("foo");
console.log(result);
```
### Radio
Radio is a convenient way for emitting events through channels. Radio can be used to either retrieve a channel, or talk through a channel with either command, reqres, or vent.
```js
// channels
var globalChannel = Backbone.Wreqr.radio.channel('global');
var userChannel = Backbone.Wreqr.radio.channel('user');
// Wreqr events
Backbone.Wreqr.radio.commands.execute( 'global', 'shutdown' );
Backbone.Wreqr.radio.reqres.request( 'global', 'current-user' );
Backbone.Wreqr.radio.vent.trigger( 'global', 'game-over');
```
### Channel
Channel is an object that wraps EventAggregator, Commands, and Reqres. Channels provide a convenient way for the objects in your system to talk to one another without the global channel becoming too noisy.
```js
// global channel
var globalChannel = Backbone.Wreqr.radio.channel('global');
globalChannel.commands.execute('shutdown' );
globalChannel.reqres.request('current-user' );
globalChannel.vent.trigger('game-over');
// user channel
var userChannel = Backbone.Wreqr.radio.channel('user');
userChannel.commands.execute('punnish');
userChannel.reqres.request('user-avatar');
userChannel.vent.trigger('win', {
level: 2,
stars: 3
});
```
### Adding Multiple Handlers
Multiple handlers can be set on the Commands and RequestResponse
objects in a single call, using the `setHandlers` method and supplying
a `{"name": configuration}` hash where the `configuration` is an
object literal or a function.
```js
var reqres = new Backbone.Wreqr.RequestResponse();
reqres.setHandlers({
"foo": function(){ /* ... */ },
"bar": {
callback: function(){ /* ... */ },
context: someObject
}
});
var result = reqres.request("foo");
```
The "foo" handler is assigned directly to a function, while the
"bar" handler is assigned to a function with a specific context
to execute the function within.
This works for all `Handlers`, `Commands` and `RequestResponse`
objects.
### Removing Handlers
Removing handlers for commands or requests is done the
same way, with the `removeHandler` or `removeAllHandlers`
functions.
```js
reqres.removeHandler("foo");
commands.removeAllHandlers();
```
### Extending Wreqr Objects
The EventAggregator, Commands and RequestResponse objects can all be
extended using Backbone's standard `extend` method.
```js
var MyEventAgg = Backbone.Wreqr.EventAggregator.extend({
foo: function(){...}
});
var MyCommands = Backbone.Wreqr.Commands.extend({
foo: function(){...}
});
var MyReqRes = Backbone.Wreqr.RequestResponse.extend({
foo: function(){...}
});
```
## License
MIT - see [LICENSE.md](https://raw.github.com/marionettejs/backbone.wreqr/master/LICENSE.md)
## Dev
* `npm install`
* `npm install -g grunt-cli`
* `grunt`