angular.module("app").controller("SomeController", function($scope) { setTimeout(function () { $scope.someVar = 'happy debugging';

angular.module("app").controller("SomeController", function($scope) { setTimeout(function () { $scope.someVar = 'happy debugging'; }, 500); }); Your example is stupid 1/ you should use $timeout or you're just asking for troubles.If not then $scope.$apply 2/ use named function expressions Any async operation in angularjs needs to trigger a digest cycle,that's angular 101. You cant use a framework without actually understanding how it works at first place. Your point is moot because you are using an example that is a mistake at best , but more like a bad piece of code,in angularjs context.No serious angularjs developper would do that mistake,especially when you are supposed to test that piece of code,using a function you didnt inject in the controller.