How can I handle async calls when validating with Backbone.js (uniqueness specifically) - validation

Question

This is relevant for either client or server side apps using backbone. I am attempting to create a validation function with uniqueness checks to MongoDB or some REST call (depending on environment). Both of these calls are async by nature; however, I think I actually need to make it block here for validation purposes. If I don't return anything the validate function will assume validation passed.
My code currently looks like this on the server side:
isUnique: function (key) {
var dfdFindOne = this.findOne({key: this.get(key)}),
dfd = new Deferred();
dfdFindOne.done(function (err, result) {
console.log(result);
dfd.resolve(true);
});
return dfd;
};
... some stuff here....
I feel like I can do some sort of wait till done functionality here before I return... perhaps not though. I wish backbone provided a callback function or something or accepted some sort of deferred type thing.
validate: function() {
var result = undefined;
if(!this.isUnique(key).done(function(){
result = "AHHH not unique!";
});
return result;
}
A possible solution might be to force mongodb's native node client to call things synchronously. I think I can do the same with rest calls... This is probably a bad solution though.

Answer 1

You could call the ajax request and set async:false in this way the return will have value. However to use async:false is evil because could appear as the browser is locked. For server side maybe there are not always workarounds for set async: false
My recommendation is to use your own validation flow instead of Backbone.validate flow, because the validation flow of Backbone was made thinking for synchronous validations only. You could try something like this:
//Code in your Model
isUnique: function (callback) {
var dfdFindOne = this.findOne({key: this.get(key)});
dfdFindOne.done(function (err, result) {
console.log(result);
callback(result);
});
};
validate: function(callback) {
this.isUnique(callback);
}
//trying to validate before save
model.validate(function(result){
if( result == 'whatexpected'){
model.save();
}
});