How to pass variable from app.js to routes/index.js?

Question

I\'m using shrinkroute https://npmjs.org/package/shrinkroute to make links in nodejs. I get error 500 ReferenceError: shrinkr is not defined

How to pass shrinkroute

Answer 1

Two easy ways to achieve what you want:

1. Accessing your shrinkroute instance from within your route

Simple as that. Nothing else is required after Shrinkroute is setup.

exports.showOrListUsers = function(req, res, next) {
  var shrinkr = req.app.shrinkroute;
  console.log( "Route: " + req.route.name ); // ta-da, made available by Shrinkroute
  // do your URL buildings
};

2. Using the middleware

If you don't want be tempted with non URL building methods of Shrinkroute, you can use the middleware, which will make available to you some helpers in your route and in your template (via locals):

// app.js
app.use( shrinkr.middleware );

// routes/index.js
exports.showOrListUsers = function(req, res, next) {
  console.log( "Route: " + req.route.name ); // ta-da, made available by Shrinkroute

  req.buildUrl( "users", { name: "foo" } );
  // or, if you want the full url with the scheme and host...
  req.buildFullUrl( "users", { name: "foo" } );
};

And maybe you want to use them in your templates as well?

// templates/index.jade
a( href=url( "users", { name: "foo" } ) ) Foo profile
a( href=fullUrl( "users", { name: "foo" } ) ) Foo profile

This method has the advantage that you don't get direct access to route setters inside a route.

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Disclaimer: I'm the author of Shrinkroute.