Template for exporting a class in a node module based on Crockford: http://javascript.crockford.com/private.html

node class export template

var util = require("util"),
  BaseThing = require("./base_thing");

// Constructor function
var Thing = module.exports = function(attrs){
  this.attrs = attrs;

  // Priveleged method can be invoked by public methods
  this.privelegedMethod = function() {
  }
}

// Inheritance
util.inherits(Thing, BaseThing);

// Optionally dynamic assignment of properties
Object.defineProperty(Thing.prototype, "name", {
    get: function () { return this.attrs.name; }
});

// Public methods
Thing.prototype.doSomething = function (arg1, arg2) {
  // Access constructor arguments with this
  this.attrs
  
  // Invoke priveleged methods
  this.privelegedMethod();
};

// Override toJSON, return the thing that should be serialized with JSON.stringify
Thing.prototype.toJSON = function() {
  return this.attrs;
};

module.exports = Thing;