Mocking all objects on your controller's $ - aca-mobile/ti-unit GitHub Wiki
Typically, your controller contains a lot of references to objects and properties in it's view, which are referenced on $:
function onButtonClick() {
UserManager.setUserName($.username.getValue());
$.someLabel.text = 'anotherValue';
}
Writing a mock for $ can become quite some work, unless ... you generate them.
beforeEach(function () {
// generate the mock
$ = require('tiunit/mockcontroller').createControllerMock('../app/controllers/authenticate.js');
MockRequire.addMock('user.manager', userManagerMock);
controllerUnderTest = require('../app/controllers/authenticate');
});