can/map/define default behaviors with "*"

[imjoshdean]

It would be really nice if we could create default behaviors for map attributes. For example, I have an AppState object tied to my can.route; however, not every attribute I want to throw on the AppState should be serialized and put into the route. Right now I have to define every attribute I want to put in my AppState with:

attributeName: {
    serialize: false
}

What would be nicer to have would be to have a catch all definition for attribute behaviors, say, "*", that would provide a set of behaviors for all attributes unless otherwise defined. So for example:

serializeOne: {
    serialize: true
},
serializeTwo: {
    serialize: true
},
"*": {
    serialize: false,
    type: "string"
}

serializeOne and serializeTwo would be typed as strings and be serializable; all other attributes on the Map wouldn't be serialized but will be also typed as strings.

[mtovino]

+1

[zkat]

I like it. +1

[wclr]

This wil be probably usefull.

[imjoshdean]

Word. I think I'll quick throw something together, add some tests, and make some documentation modifications. 👍

[imjoshdean]

Currently sitting on a solution, but the tests are now failing in YUI - though I can't be exactly sure why. Will have to take a look later.

[justinbmeyer]

@daffl @imjoshdean what would it take to get this in for can.List as well?

[wclr]

Is * going to afffect ALL the attributes or only that are in define object?

[imjoshdean]

@whitecolor It will affect all attributes - but it will have the same minimal footprint that define has already.

[wclr]

Is this supposed to work? In master?

[daffl]

Yes. But @imjoshdean still needs to add documentation (#1449)

[wclr]

http://jsfiddle.net/xKc3H/367/

var Model = can.Model.extend({

    define: {
        name: {
            value: 'Alex'            
        },
        '*': {
            serialize: false
        }
    }
})


var model = new Model({age: 10, name: 'John'})

console.log(model.serialize())

Why result is Object {name: "John"} ? I thought no props should be serialized, no? It is not very useful if * defines only not defnied attributes, I think it should aslo define each attribute properties.

[imjoshdean]

@whitecolor Your use case is the entire reason why I wrote the define default behavior to begin with. I'll have a fix in before end of weekend.

[imjoshdean]

@whitecolor - Check the provided diff. I added your test with a minor tweak to the define tests. Thanks for catching this, because as I said...your use case was the whole purpose to me making this feature. I want to tie AppState to can.route, but I don't want EVERYTHING put in AppState to be serialized.

[imjoshdean]

...aside from the linting erros. :S