utils.ns = function (string, obj, target) {
    var parts = string.split('.');
    var current = null;
    var container = target || window;

    while (parts.length > 0) {
        current = parts.shift();
        if (parts.length === 0) {
            // last part
            // if object is given then add that object
            // if there is already something there don't do anything
            // otherwise just create an empty object
            container[current] = obj || container[current] || {};
            return container[current];
        } else {
            container[current] = container[current] || {};
        }
        container = container[current];
    }

    return obj;
}