## Safer monkeypatching for Node.js `shimmer` does a bunch of the work necessary to wrap other methods in a wrapper you provide: ```javascript var http = require('http'); var shimmer = require('shimmer'); shimmer.wrap(http, 'request', function (original) { return function () { console.log("Starting request!"); var returned = original.apply(this, arguments) console.log("Done setting up request -- OH YEAH!"); return returned; }; }); ``` ### Mandatory disclaimer There are times when it's necessary to monkeypatch default behavior in JavaScript and Node. However, changing the behavior of the runtime on the fly is rarely a good idea, and you should be using this module because you need to, not because it seems like fun. ### API All monkeypatched functions have an attribute, `__wrapped`, set to true on them. #### shimmer(options) If you pass in an options object containing a function labeled `logger`, `shimmer` will use it instead of the logger, which defaults to `console.error`. `shimmer` is built to be as unobtrusive as possible and has no need to run asynchronously, so it defaults to logging when things fail, instead of throwing. #### shimmer.wrap(nodule, name, wrapper) `shimmer` monkeypatches in place, so it expects to be passed an object. It accepts either instances, prototypes, or the results of calling `require`. `name` must be the string key for the field's name on the object. `wrapper` is a function that takes a single parameter, which is the original function to be monkeypatched. `shimmer` assumes that you're adding behavior to the original method, and not replacing it outright. If you *are* replacing the original function, feel free to ignore the passed-in function. If you *aren't* discarding the original, remember these tips: * call the original with something like `original.apply(this, arguments)`, unless your reason for monkeypatching is to transform the arguments. * always capture and return the return value coming from the original function. Today's null-returning callback is tomorrow's error-code returning callback. * Don't make an asynchronous function synchronous and vice versa. #### shimmer.massWrap(nodules, names, wrapper) Just like `wrap`, with the addition that you can wrap multiple methods on multiple modules. Note that this function expects the list of functions to be monkeypatched on all of the modules to be the same. #### shimmer.unwrap(nodule, name) A convenience function for restoring the function back the way it was before you started. Won't unwrap if somebody else has monkeypatched the function after you (but will log in that case). Won't throw if you try to double-unwrap a function (but will log). #### shimmer.wrapEmitter(emitter, mark, prepare) Wrap an EventEmitter's event listeners. Each listener will be passed to `mark` when it is registered with `.addListener()` or `.on()`, and then each listener is passed to `prepare` to be wrapped before it's called by the `.emit()` call. `wrapListener` deals with the single listener vs array of listeners logic, and also ensures that edge cases like `.removeListener()` being called from within an `.emit()` for the same event type is handled properly. The wrapped EE can be restored to its pristine state by using emitter.__unwrap(), but this should only be used if you *really* know what you're doing.