DB Connection in mongo-db native client - node.js

Question

I have an express/nodeJs app which will use mongo-db native client for persistance in Mongo-db. Now my problem is that most of the example I have seen have one collection and therefore do the connection in that js file, like this tutorial(which is mentioned in mongo-db native client docs). There the connection code is like this:
var Db = require('mongodb').Db;
var Connection = require('mongodb').Connection;
var Server = require('mongodb').Server;
var BSON = require('mongodb').BSON;
var ObjectID = require('mongodb').ObjectID;
ArticleProvider = function(host, port) {
this.db= new Db('node-mongo-blog', new Server(host, port, {auto_reconnect: true}, {}));
this.db.open(function(){});
};
ArticleProvider.prototype.getCollection= function(callback) {
this.db.collection('articles', function(error, article_collection) {
if( error ) callback(error);
else callback(null, article_collection);
});
};
ArticleProvider.prototype.findAll = function(callback) {
this.getCollection(function(error, article_collection) {
if( error ) callback(error)
else {
article_collection.find().toArray(function(error, results) {
if( error ) callback(error)
else callback(null, results)
});
}
});
};
There are other methods also which I kept out to keep it small(check in the above url for full tutorial).
My problem is that I have few more collections and therefore I am worried as to how to make a single connection to the database and use it for all the collections. I would also like if you can specify how to make connections to replica-sets also for reads and the main database for writes.
Or should I make calls to connections in each of my collection.js files like the above mentioned tutorial has done in one.
Please help me.

Answer 1

Try using the singleton pattern:
In your main express app.js connect to the database and create the database instance:
var Database = require('database.js');
...
mongodb.connect(config.dbAddress, function (err, db) {
if(err) {
return console.log('Error connection to DB');
}
Database.setDB(db);
app.listen(config.appPort);
});
Then in any other file you need to use the database require database.js again:
var Database = require('database.js');
...
ArticleProvider = function() {
this.db = Database.getDB();
};
...
Finally the database.js file follows the singleton pattern:
/**
Database Singleton Object
database.js is used throughout the app to access the db object. Using mongodb
native drivers the db object contains a pool of connections that are used to
make requests to the db. To use this singleton object simply require it and
either call getDB() or setDB(). The idea is to use setDB in app.js just
after we connect to the db and receive the db object, then in any other file we
need the db require and call getDB
**/
var mongodb = require('mongodb');
var singleton = (function() {
var instance; //Singleton Instance
function init() {
var _db; //Instance db object (private)
//Other private variables and function can be declared here
return {
//Gets the instance's db object
getDB: function() {
return _db;
},
//Sets the instance's db object
setDB: function(db) {
_db = db;
}
//Other public variables and methods can be declared here
};
}
return {
//getInstance returns the singleton instance or creates a new one if
//not present
getInstance: function() {
if (!instance) {
instance = init();
}
return instance;
}
};
})();
module.exports = singleton.getInstance();