title: Include functions and classes in express.js views
body: <p>I am a Java programmer porting a Java SE/Swing app to a web app.  I've been experimenting with node.js and express.js for the client-facing app.</p>
  
  <p>I would like to define functions at the node.js app level and have the methods and properties available to views in the node app.  I'm primarily concerned about data modeling.  I'd like to define the data models at the app level, and have the views have access to properties and methods of the models.</p>
  
  <p>I have investigated the express.js and node.js docs, and it appears to me that includes ('require' s) can be done at the app level but that they do not propogate to the view level.  </p>
  
  <p>Am I missing something?  Perhaps it's something fundamental about JavaScript or Node that I don't get...</p>