How to load the beta of Waterline v0.10 when using Express.js Make sure to use the `associations` branch of any adapters you plan on loading.

waterline-express-example.js

/**
 * A simple example of how to use Waterline v0.10 with Express
 */

var express = require('express'),
    _ = require('lodash'),
    app = express(),
    Waterline = require('waterline');



// Instantiate a new instance of the ORM
var orm = new Waterline();


//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// WATERLINE CONFIG
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

// Require any waterline compatible adapters here
var diskAdapter = require('sails-disk'),
    mysqlAdapter = require('sails-mysql');


// Build A Config Object
var config = {

  // Setup Adapters
  // Creates named adapters that have have been required
  adapters: {
    'default': diskAdapter,
    disk: diskAdapter,
    mysql: mysqlAdapter
  },

  // Build Connections Config
  // Setup connections using the named adapter configs
  connections: {
    myLocalDisk: {
      adapter: 'disk'
    },

    myLocalMySql: {
      adapter: 'mysql',
      host: 'localhost',
      database: 'foobar'
    }
  }

};


//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// WATERLINE MODELS
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

var User = Waterline.Collection.extend({

  identity: 'user',
  connection: 'myLocalDisk',

  attributes: {
    first_name: 'string',
    last_name: 'string'
  }
});

var Pet = Waterline.Collection.extend({

  identity: 'pet',
  connection: 'myLocalMySql',

  attributes: {
    name: 'string',
    breed: 'string'
  }
});


// Load the Models into the ORM
orm.loadCollection(User);
orm.loadCollection(Pet);



//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// EXPRESS SETUP
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


// Setup Express Application
app.use(express.bodyParser());
app.use(express.methodOverride());

// Build Express Routes (CRUD routes for /users)

app.get('/users', function(req, res) {
  app.models.user.find().done(function(err, models) {
    if(err) return res.json({ err: err }, 500);
    res.json(models);
  });
});

app.post('/users', function(req, res) {
  app.models.user.create(req.body, function(err, model) {
    if(err) return res.json({ err: err }, 500);
    res.json(model);
  });
});

app.get('/users/:id', function(req, res) {
  app.models.user.findOne({ id: req.params.id }, function(err, model) {
    if(err) return res.json({ err: err }, 500);
    res.json(model);
  });
});

app.del('/users/:id', function(req, res) {
  app.models.user.destroy({ id: req.params.id }, function(err) {
    if(err) return res.json({ err: err }, 500);
    res.json({ status: 'ok' });
  });
});

app.put('/users/:id', function(req, res) {
  // Don't pass ID to update
  delete req.body.id;

  app.models.user.update({ id: req.params.id }, req.body, function(err, model) {
    if(err) return res.json({ err: err }, 500);
    res.json(model);
  });
});



//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// START WATERLINE
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

// Start Waterline passing adapters in
orm.initialize(config, function(err, models) {
  if(err) throw err;

  app.models = models.collections;
  app.connections = models.connections;

  // Start Server
  app.listen(3000);
});

Can collections be accessible from other files without exposing models into something global ?

Is it a good practise writing sth like that;

var User = require('waterline')._collections.user

^ I am wondering the same

I asked about this in the Sails IRC channel and this is one of the possible solutions: http://hastebin.com/megumaboku.js