Are there any alternatives to using eval
to immediatly run remote & trusted javascript code.
function load(filePath) {
var o = $.ajax({
url: filePath,
dataType: 'html',
async: false
});
eval(o.responseText);
}
load("somePath");
// run a function that relies on the code from o.responseText being loaded
doSomethingWithCode();
I'm aware that synchronous loading of javascript is adviced againts. But if there is no choice are there any cross browser alternatives for the use of eval above.
[Edit]
To clarify in more detail the code being loaded is a self executing function. Which needs to execute before doSomethingWidthCode. It's also being loaded from the server on the same domain hence its trusted.
Dynamic script text insertion is the only alternative to eval
.
var head = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.documentElement,
nscr = document.createElement('script');
nscr.type = 'text/javascript';
nscr.textContent = o.responseText;
nscr.setAttribute('name', 'dynamically inserted');
nscr.onload = nscr.onreadystatechange = function() {
if( nscr.readyState ) {
if( nscr.readyState === 'complete' || scr.readyState === 'loaded' ) {
nscr.onreadystatechange = null;
doSomethingWithCode();
}
else {
doSomethingWithCode();
}
};
head.insertBefore(nscr, head.firstChild);
Only thing to mention: textContent
is not available in InternetExplorers. You would need to use .text
instead there, so a little detection for that makes it cross-browser compatible.
edit
To have a syncronous
loading dynamic script tag, you could add nscr.async = true;
. Anyway, this only works in cutting edge browsers.
I would use JSONP in this case. Raymond Camden provides and excellent introduction to the concept.
A quick example of using JSONP in this situation is available at http://playground.itcouldbe9.com/syncjsonp/.
You can have your code returned wrapped inside a function, and when the request completes, execute that function. For example, this is your remote code:
function hi(){alert('hi');}
And then when your request is complete, you can inject that code into a javascript tag and then call the function hi()
why not use a callback?
eval('(function(){' + o.responseText + ';})(); doSomethingWithCode();')
EDIT:
OK then try this:
var o = $.ajax({
url: filePath,
dataType: 'html',
async: false
success: function(responseText){
eval('(function(){' + responseText + '})()');
doSomethingWithCode();
});
});
I think the only option left would be polling:
(function(){
if (o.responeText)
doSomethingWithCode();
else
setTimeout(arguments.callee, 13);
})();