angular-recursion.js

/* 
 * An Angular service which helps with creating recursive directives.
 * @author Mark Lagendijk
 * @license MIT
 */
angular.module('RecursionHelper', []).factory('RecursionHelper', ['$compile', function($compile){
	return {
		/**
		 * Manually compiles the element, fixing the recursion loop.
		 * @param element
		 * @param [link] A post-link function, or an object with function(s) registered via pre and post properties.
		 * @returns An object containing the linking functions.
		 */
		compile: function(element, link){
			// Normalize the link parameter
			if(angular.isFunction(link)){
				link = { post: link };
			}

			// Break the recursion loop by removing the contents
			var contents = element.contents().remove();
			var compiledContents;
			return {
				pre: (link && link.pre) ? link.pre : null,
				/**
				 * Compiles and re-adds the contents
				 */
				post: function(scope, element){
					// Compile the contents
					if(!compiledContents){
						compiledContents = $compile(contents);
					}
					// Re-add the compiled contents to the element
					compiledContents(scope, function(clone){
						element.append(clone);
					});

					// Call the post-linking function, if any
					if(link && link.post){
						link.post.apply(null, arguments);
					}
				}
			};
		}
	};
}]);