the prelink function won't be called if the directive has templateUrl and controller property also.

[stevenguan]

it may caused by set derivedSyncDirective with 'controller: null' in compileTemplateUrl.

controll is null cause 'getControllers' fail which is called in 'linkFn(scope, $element, attrs,linkFn.require && getControllers(linkFn.require, $element));'(nodeLinkFn).

if I remove this part the prelink will work. DOn't know why 'controller: null' there.

I create a demo here http://plnkr.co/edit/yMcurPowZmxCOv0luE5s?p=preview

[stevenguan]

I use AngularJS v1.1.5