Introduction to require-all

The require-all library is a fantastic Node.js utility that provides a way to require all files in a specific directory and its subdirectories. This can be particularly useful for loading models, routes, controllers, and more in a clean and organized way. In this guide, we’ll explore the various APIs offered by require-all along with practical examples to enhance your understanding.

APIs and Usage

Here are some of the key APIs provided by require-all along with their usage:

Default Usage

The basic usage involves simply passing the directory you want to require files from:

 const requireAll = require('require-all'); const controllers = requireAll(__dirname + '/controllers'); 

Filter

You can filter the files to be required using a filter function.

 const controllers = requireAll({
  dirname :  __dirname + '/controllers',
  filter  :  /(.+Controller)\.js$/
}); 

Recursive Loading

Load files recursively from subdirectories:

 const libs = requireAll({
  dirname     :  __dirname + '/lib',
  recursive   : true
}); 

Map File Names

Transform the names of the modules before they are added to the returned object:

 const models = requireAll({
  dirname : __dirname + '/models',
  map     : function (name, path) {
    return name.replace(/_model$/, '');
  }
}); 

Resolve Files

Modify the module after it is required but before it is added to the object:

 const routes = requireAll({
  dirname : __dirname + '/routes',
  resolve : function (route) {
    return route.init();
  }
}); 

Application Example

Let’s see how these APIs can be put together to build a simple Express application.

 const express = require('express'); const requireAll = require('require-all'); const app = express();
// Load controllers const controllers = requireAll({
  dirname : __dirname + '/controllers',
  filter  : /(.+Controller)\.js$/,
  resolve : function (controller) {
    return new controller(app);
  }
});
app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server is running on port 3000');
}); 

In this example, controllers are loaded from the ‘controllers’ directory and are initialized with the Express app instance. This provides a clean and modular structure to handle your routes and logic.

Using the require-all library effectively can simplify your codebase and improve maintainability by organizing your files in a consistent manner.

Explore and enjoy the power of require-all for your Node.js projects!

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