📚 DOCS: Update README for v0.1.0 API changes

- Remove all outdated API examples (sendEmail, scheduleEmail)
- Add comprehensive examples using new payload.create() approach
- Include template engine configuration options (LiquidJS, Mustache, custom)
- Add detailed migration guide from v0.0.x to v0.1.0
- Update feature list to highlight type safety and Payload integration
- Replace old API methods section with helper functions
- Add template syntax reference for all supported engines
- Update Recent Changes section with v0.1.0 breaking changes

The README now accurately reflects the simplified collection-based API
and provides clear migration paths for existing users.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.ai/code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>

README.md

@@ -2,16 +2,17 @@
 
 📧 **Template-based email system with scheduling and job processing for PayloadCMS**
 
-⚠️ **Pre-release Warning**: This package is currently in active development (v0.0.x). Breaking changes may occur before v1.0.0. Not recommended for production use.
+✨ **Simplified API**: Starting from v0.1.0, this plugin uses a simplified API that leverages PayloadCMS collections directly for better type safety and flexibility.
 
 ## Features
 
-✅ **Template System**: Create reusable email templates with Handlebars syntax  
+✅ **Template System**: Create reusable email templates with LiquidJS, Mustache, or simple variables
-✅ **Outbox Scheduling**: Schedule emails for future delivery  
+✅ **Type Safety**: Full TypeScript support using your generated Payload types
+✅ **Flexible Template Engines**: LiquidJS, Mustache, or bring your own template renderer
+✅ **Email Scheduling**: Schedule emails for future delivery using Payload collections
 ✅ **Job Integration**: Automatic processing via PayloadCMS jobs queue
 ✅ **Retry Failed Sends**: Automatic retry mechanism for failed emails
-✅ **Template Variables**: Dynamic content with validation  
+✅ **Payload Native**: Uses Payload collections directly - no custom APIs to learn
-✅ **Developer API**: Simple methods for sending emails programmatically
 
 ## Installation
 
@@ -49,53 +50,124 @@ export default buildConfig({
 })
 ```
 
-### 2. Send emails in your code
+### 2. Send emails using Payload collections
 
 ```typescript
-import { sendEmail, scheduleEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+import { renderTemplate } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
 
-// Send immediately using template slug
+// Option 1: Using templates with variables
-const emailId = await sendEmail(payload, {
+const { html, text, subject } = await renderTemplate(payload, 'welcome-email', {
-  templateSlug: 'welcome-email',
-  to: 'user@example.com',
-  variables: {
   firstName: 'John',
   welcomeUrl: 'https://yoursite.com/welcome'
+})
+
+// Create email using Payload's collection API (full type safety!)
+const email = await payload.create({
+  collection: 'emails',
+  data: {
+    to: ['user@example.com'],
+    subject,
+    html,
+    text,
+    // Schedule for later (optional)
+    scheduledAt: new Date(Date.now() + 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000),
+    // Add any custom fields you've defined
+    priority: 1,
+    customField: 'your-value', // Your custom collection fields work!
   }
 })
 
-// Schedule for later
+// Option 2: Direct HTML email (no template needed)
-const scheduledId = await scheduleEmail(payload, {
+const directEmail = await payload.create({
-  templateSlug: 'reminder-email',
+  collection: 'emails',
-  to: 'user@example.com',
+  data: {
-  scheduledAt: new Date(Date.now() + 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000), // 24 hours
+    to: ['user@example.com'],
-  variables: {
+    subject: 'Welcome!',
-    eventName: 'Product Launch',
+    html: '<h1>Welcome John!</h1><p>Thanks for joining!</p>',
-    eventDate: new Date('2024-01-15')
+    text: 'Welcome John! Thanks for joining!',
   }
 })
 ```
 
+## Why This Approach is Better
+
+- ✅ **Full Type Safety**: Use your generated Payload types
+- ✅ **No Learning Curve**: Just use `payload.create()` like any collection
+- ✅ **Maximum Flexibility**: Add any custom fields to your email collection
+- ✅ **Payload Integration**: Leverage validation, hooks, access control
+- ✅ **Consistent API**: One way to create data in Payload
+
 ## Configuration
 
 ### Plugin Options
 
 ```typescript
-interface MailingPluginConfig {
+mailingPlugin({
-  collections?: {
+  // Template engine (optional)
-    templates?: string    // default: 'email-templates'
+  templateEngine: 'liquidjs',  // 'liquidjs' | 'mustache' | 'simple'
-    emails?: string      // default: 'emails'
+
+  // Custom template renderer (optional)
+  templateRenderer: async (template: string, variables: Record<string, any>) => {
+    return yourCustomEngine.render(template, variables)
+  },
+
+  // Email transport
+  transport: {
+    host: 'smtp.gmail.com',
+    port: 587,
+    auth: { user: '...', pass: '...' }
+  },
+
+  // Collection names (optional)
+  collections: {
+    templates: 'email-templates',  // default
+    emails: 'emails'              // default
+  },
+
+  // Sending options
+  defaultFrom: 'noreply@yoursite.com',
+  defaultFromName: 'Your Site',
+  retryAttempts: 3,              // default
+  retryDelay: 300000,            // 5 minutes (default)
+
+  // Advanced options
+  emailWrapper: (email) => ({    // optional layout wrapper
+    ...email,
+    html: `<html><body>${email.html}</body></html>`
+  }),
+  richTextEditor: lexicalEditor(),  // optional custom editor
+  onReady: async (payload) => {     // optional initialization hook
+    console.log('Mailing plugin ready!')
   }
-  defaultFrom?: string
+})
-  transport?: Transporter | MailingTransportConfig
+```
-  queue?: string         // default: 'default'
+
-  retryAttempts?: number // default: 3
+### Template Engine Options
-  retryDelay?: number    // default: 300000 (5 minutes)
+
-  emailWrapper?: EmailWrapperHook // optional email layout wrapper
+Choose your preferred template engine:
-  richTextEditor?: RichTextField['editor'] // optional custom rich text editor
+
-  onReady?: (payload: any) => Promise<void> // optional callback after plugin initialization
+```typescript
-  initOrder?: 'before' | 'after' // default: 'before'
+// LiquidJS (default) - Modern syntax with logic
-}
+mailingPlugin({
+  templateEngine: 'liquidjs'  // {% if user.isPremium %}Premium!{% endif %}
+})
+
+// Mustache - Logic-less templates
+mailingPlugin({
+  templateEngine: 'mustache'  // {{#user.isPremium}}Premium!{{/user.isPremium}}
+})
+
+// Simple variable replacement
+mailingPlugin({
+  templateEngine: 'simple'    // Just {{variable}} replacement
+})
+
+// Custom template renderer
+mailingPlugin({
+  templateRenderer: async (template, variables) => {
+    return handlebars.compile(template)(variables)  // Bring your own!
+  }
+})
 ```
 
 ### Transport Configuration
@@ -473,71 +545,50 @@ mailingPlugin({
 })
 ```
 
-## Handlebars Helpers
+## Template Syntax Reference
 
-The plugin includes several built-in helpers:
+Depending on your chosen template engine, you can use different syntax:
 
-- `{{formatDate date 'short'}}` - Format dates (short, long, or default)
+### LiquidJS (Default)
-- `{{formatCurrency amount 'USD'}}` - Format currency
+- Variables: `{{ user.name }}`
-- `{{capitalize string}}` - Capitalize first letter
+- Logic: `{% if user.isPremium %}Premium content{% endif %}`
-- `{{#ifEquals value1 value2}}...{{/ifEquals}}` - Conditional equality
+- Loops: `{% for item in items %}{{ item.name }}{% endfor %}`
+- Filters: `{{ amount | formatCurrency }}`, `{{ date | formatDate: "short" }}`
 
-## API Methods
+### Mustache
+- Variables: `{{ user.name }}`
+- Logic: `{{#user.isPremium}}Premium content{{/user.isPremium}}`
+- Loops: `{{#items}}{{ name }}{{/items}}`
+- No built-in filters (use variables with pre-formatted data)
 
-### sendEmail(payload, options)
+### Simple
+- Variables only: `{{ user.name }}`, `{{ amount }}`, `{{ date }}`
 
-Send an email immediately:
+### Built-in Filters (LiquidJS only)
+- `formatDate` - Format dates: `{{ createdAt | formatDate: "short" }}`
+- `formatCurrency` - Format currency: `{{ amount | formatCurrency: "USD" }}`
+- `capitalize` - Capitalize first letter: `{{ name | capitalize }}`
+
+## Available Helper Functions
 
 ```typescript
-const emailId = await sendEmail(payload, {
+import {
-  templateSlug: 'order-confirmation', // optional - use template slug
+  renderTemplate,    // Render email templates with variables
-  to: ['customer@example.com'],       // string or array of emails
+  processEmails,     // Process pending emails manually
-  cc: ['manager@example.com'],        // optional - array of emails
+  retryFailedEmails, // Retry failed emails
-  bcc: ['archive@example.com'],       // optional - array of emails  
+  getMailing        // Get mailing service instance
-  from: 'orders@yoursite.com',        // optional, uses default
+} from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
-  replyTo: 'support@yoursite.com',    // optional
+
-  subject: 'Custom subject',          // required if no template
+// Render a template
-  html: '<h1>Custom HTML</h1>',       // required if no template
+const { html, text, subject } = await renderTemplate(payload, 'welcome', {
-  text: 'Custom text version',        // optional
+  name: 'John',
-  variables: {                        // template variables
+  activationUrl: 'https://example.com/activate'
-    orderNumber: '12345',
-    customerName: 'John Doe'
-  },
-  priority: 1                         // optional, 1-10 (1 = highest)
 })
-```
 
-### scheduleEmail(payload, options)
+// Process emails manually
-
-Schedule an email for later delivery:
-
-```typescript
-const emailId = await scheduleEmail(payload, {
-  templateSlug: 'newsletter',
-  to: ['user1@example.com', 'user2@example.com'],
-  scheduledAt: new Date('2024-01-15T10:00:00Z'),
-  variables: {
-    month: 'January',
-    highlights: ['Feature A', 'Feature B']
-  }
-})
-```
-
-### processEmails(payload)
-
-Manually process pending emails:
-
-```typescript
-import { processEmails } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
 await processEmails(payload)
-```
 
-### retryFailedEmails(payload)
+// Retry failed emails
-
-Manually retry failed emails:
-
-```typescript
-import { retryFailedEmails } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
 await retryFailedEmails(payload)
 ```
 
@@ -716,35 +767,85 @@ import {
 } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
 ```
 
+## Migration Guide (v0.0.x → v0.1.0)
+
+**🚨 BREAKING CHANGES**: The API has been simplified to use Payload collections directly.
+
+### Before (v0.0.x)
+```typescript
+import { sendEmail, scheduleEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+
+// Old way
+const emailId = await sendEmail(payload, {
+  templateSlug: 'welcome',
+  to: 'user@example.com',
+  variables: { name: 'John' }
+})
+
+const scheduledId = await scheduleEmail(payload, {
+  templateSlug: 'reminder',
+  to: 'user@example.com',
+  scheduledAt: new Date('2024-01-15T10:00:00Z'),
+  variables: { eventName: 'Launch' }
+})
+```
+
+### After (v0.1.0+)
+```typescript
+import { renderTemplate } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+
+// New way - render template first
+const { html, text, subject } = await renderTemplate(payload, 'welcome', {
+  name: 'John'
+})
+
+// Then create email using Payload collections (full type safety!)
+const email = await payload.create({
+  collection: 'emails',
+  data: {
+    to: ['user@example.com'],
+    subject,
+    html,
+    text,
+    // For scheduling
+    scheduledAt: new Date('2024-01-15T10:00:00Z'),
+    // Add any custom fields from your collection
+    customField: 'value',
+  }
+})
+```
+
+### Benefits of Migration
+- ✅ **Full TypeScript support** with your generated Payload types
+- ✅ **Use any custom fields** you add to your email collection
+- ✅ **Leverage Payload's features**: validation, hooks, access control
+- ✅ **One consistent API** - just use `payload.create()`
+- ✅ **No wrapper methods** - direct access to Payload's power
+
 ## Recent Changes
 
-### v0.0.x (Latest)
+### v0.1.0 (Latest - Breaking Changes)
 
-**🔄 Breaking Changes:**
+**🚀 Major API Simplification:**
-- Removed email layouts system in favor of `emailWrapper` hook for better flexibility
+- **REMOVED**: `sendEmail()` and `scheduleEmail()` wrapper methods
-- Email fields (`to`, `cc`, `bcc`) now use `hasMany: true` for proper array handling  
+- **REMOVED**: `SendEmailOptions` custom types
-- Templates now use slug-based lookup instead of ID-based for developer-friendly API
+- **ADDED**: Direct Payload collection usage with full type safety
-- Email collection renamed from "outbox" to "emails"
+- **ADDED**: `renderTemplate()` helper for template rendering
-- Unified job processing: single `process-email-queue` job handles both pending and failed emails
+- **ADDED**: Support for LiquidJS, Mustache, and custom template engines
+- **IMPROVED**: Webpack compatibility with proper dynamic imports
 
-**✨ New Features:**
+**Template Engine Enhancements:**
-- Rich text editor with automatic HTML/text conversion
+- **NEW**: LiquidJS support (default) with modern syntax and logic
-- Template slugs for easier template reference
+- **NEW**: Mustache support for logic-less templates
-- `emailWrapper` hook for consistent email layouts
+- **NEW**: Custom template renderer hook for maximum flexibility
-- Custom rich text editor configuration support
+- **NEW**: Simple variable replacement as fallback
-- Initialization hooks (`onReady`, `initOrder`) for better plugin lifecycle control
+- **FIXED**: All webpack compatibility issues resolved
-- Improved Handlebars variable interpolation with defensive programming
 
-**🐛 Bug Fixes:**
+**Developer Experience:**
-- Fixed text version uppercase conversion in headings
+- **IMPROVED**: Full TypeScript inference using generated Payload types
-- Fixed Handlebars interpolation issues in text version
+- **IMPROVED**: Comprehensive migration guide and documentation
-- Improved plugin initialization order to prevent timing issues
+- **IMPROVED**: Better error handling and async patterns
-
+- **SIMPLIFIED**: Cleaner codebase with fewer abstractions
-**💡 Improvements:**
-- Better admin UI with proper array input controls
-- More robust error handling and logging
-- Enhanced TypeScript definitions
-- Simplified template creation workflow
 
 ## License
 

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@xtr-dev/payload-mailing",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "version": "0.1.1",
   "description": "Template-based email system with scheduling and job processing for PayloadCMS",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "dist/index.js",