Ember.js current_user - accessing global variable from controller

Question

I am baffled by a seemingly simple ember question. I am using active_model_serializers meta data serialization to serialize my rails current_user method from a rails controller, then extracting and setting that current_user meta json to a global ember variable using this guy's temporary solution.

App.CustomRESTSerializer = DS.RESTSerializer.extend({
  extractMeta: function(loader, type, json) {
    var meta;
    meta = json[this.configOption(type, 'meta')];
    if (!meta) { return; }
    Ember.set('App.metaData', meta);
    this._super(loader, type, json);
  }
});

All good up until this point. Now I can access the current_user information from the console by typing in App.metaData.current_user and also from handlebars by calling a specific attribute, i.e.:

{{App.metaData.current_user.email}}

and that email attribute shows up in the template. The problem comes when I am trying to access that global variable from within an ember controller. It seems so ridiculously easy, but I can't seem to access current_user from within any ember controller. I have tried:

currentUserBinding: 'App.metaData.current_user',

currentUser: function() {
  return App.metaData.current_user;
}.property(),

Ember.get('App.metaData.current_user')

and a few other methods, but can't seem to access it. It's bizarre that I can access current_user so easily from within the console and handlebars with a direct path, but not from within an ember controller. I must be missing something obvious.

Would appreciate any help!

Answer 1

In our app we do it same as @MilkyWayJoe suggested, but I think your approach is really interesting. Passing current_user thru JSON is a really elegant approach.

I've not experimented too much, but from what I can tell in your example the problem is nothing to do with the serializer. It's a problem with the computed property - you need to specify that it depends on App.metaData.current_user.

App.ApplicationController = Ember.Controller.extend({
  currentUser: function() {
    return Ember.get('App.metaData.current_user')
  }.property('App.metaData.current_user')
});

This tells ember that it should re-calculate the currentUser property whenever App.metaData.currentUser changes. Otherwise it will run the fx once (before your ajax returns) and cache the response.