Merge pull request #24 from xtr-dev/dev

Dev

README.md

@@ -2,16 +2,22 @@
 
 📧 **Template-based email system with scheduling and job processing for PayloadCMS**
 
-✨ **Simplified API**: Starting from v0.1.0, this plugin uses a simplified API that leverages PayloadCMS collections directly for better type safety and flexibility.
+⚠️ **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.
 
 ## Features
 
 ✅ **Template System**: Create reusable email templates with LiquidJS, Mustache, or simple variables
+
 ✅ **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
+
 ✅ **Payload Native**: Uses Payload collections directly - no custom APIs to learn
 
 ## Installation
@@ -50,53 +56,55 @@ export default buildConfig({
 })
 ```
 
-### 2. Send emails using Payload collections
+### 2. Send emails with type-safe helper
 
 ```typescript
-import { renderTemplate } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+// sendEmail is a primary export for easy access
+import { sendEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+import { Email } from './payload-types' // Your generated types
 
-// Option 1: Using templates with variables
-const { html, text, subject } = await renderTemplate(payload, 'welcome-email', {
-  firstName: 'John',
-  welcomeUrl: 'https://yoursite.com/welcome'
-})
-
-// Create email using Payload's collection API (full type safety!)
-const email = await payload.create({
-  collection: 'emails',
+// Option 1: Using templates with full type safety
+const email = await sendEmail<Email>(payload, {
+  template: {
+    slug: 'welcome-email',
+    variables: {
+      firstName: 'John',
+      welcomeUrl: 'https://yoursite.com/welcome'
+    }
+  },
   data: {
-    to: ['user@example.com'],
-    subject,
-    html,
-    text,
+    to: 'user@example.com',
     // 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!
+    // Your custom fields are type-safe!
+    customField: 'your-value',
   }
 })
 
-// Option 2: Direct HTML email (no template needed)
-const directEmail = await payload.create({
-  collection: 'emails',
+// Option 2: Direct HTML email (no template)
+const directEmail = await sendEmail<Email>(payload, {
   data: {
-    to: ['user@example.com'],
+    to: ['user@example.com', 'another@example.com'],
     subject: 'Welcome!',
     html: '<h1>Welcome John!</h1><p>Thanks for joining!</p>',
     text: 'Welcome John! Thanks for joining!',
+    // All your custom fields work with TypeScript autocomplete!
+    customField: 'value',
+  }
+})
+
+// Option 3: Use payload.create() directly for full control
+const manualEmail = await payload.create({
+  collection: 'emails',
+  data: {
+    to: ['user@example.com'],
+    subject: 'Hello',
+    html: '<p>Hello World</p>',
   }
 })
 ```
 
-## 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
@@ -592,6 +600,81 @@ await processEmails(payload)
 await retryFailedEmails(payload)
 ```
 
+## PayloadCMS Task Integration
+
+The plugin provides a ready-to-use PayloadCMS task for queuing template emails:
+
+### 1. Add the task to your Payload config
+
+```typescript
+import { buildConfig } from 'payload/config'
+import { sendTemplateEmailTask } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+
+export default buildConfig({
+  // ... your config
+  jobs: {
+    tasks: [
+      sendTemplateEmailTask,
+      // ... your other tasks
+    ]
+  }
+})
+```
+
+### 2. Queue emails from your code
+
+```typescript
+import type { SendTemplateEmailInput } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+
+// Queue a template email
+const result = await payload.jobs.queue({
+  task: 'send-template-email',
+  input: {
+    templateSlug: 'welcome-email',
+    to: ['user@example.com'],
+    cc: ['manager@example.com'],
+    variables: {
+      firstName: 'John',
+      activationUrl: 'https://example.com/activate/123'
+    },
+    priority: 1,
+    // Add any custom fields from your email collection
+    customField: 'value'
+  } as SendTemplateEmailInput
+})
+
+// Queue a scheduled email
+await payload.jobs.queue({
+  task: 'send-template-email',
+  input: {
+    templateSlug: 'reminder-email',
+    to: ['user@example.com'],
+    variables: { eventName: 'Product Launch' },
+    scheduledAt: new Date('2024-01-15T10:00:00Z').toISOString(),
+    priority: 3
+  }
+})
+```
+
+### 3. Use in admin panel workflows
+
+The task can also be triggered from the Payload admin panel with a user-friendly form interface that includes:
+- Template slug selection
+- Email recipients (to, cc, bcc)
+- Template variables as JSON
+- Optional scheduling
+- Priority setting
+- Any custom fields you've added to your email collection
+
+### Task Benefits
+
+- ✅ **Easy Integration**: Just add to your tasks array
+- ✅ **Type Safety**: Full TypeScript support with `SendTemplateEmailInput`
+- ✅ **Admin UI**: Ready-to-use form interface
+- ✅ **Flexible**: Supports all your custom email collection fields
+- ✅ **Error Handling**: Comprehensive error reporting
+- ✅ **Queue Management**: Leverage Payload's job queue system
+
 ## Job Processing
 
 The plugin automatically adds a unified email processing job to PayloadCMS:
@@ -767,6 +850,55 @@ import {
 } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
 ```
 
+## API Reference
+
+### `sendEmail<T>(payload, options)`
+
+Type-safe email sending with automatic template rendering and validation.
+
+```typescript
+import { sendEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+import { Email } from './payload-types'
+
+const email = await sendEmail<Email>(payload, {
+  template: {
+    slug: 'template-slug',
+    variables: { /* template variables */ }
+  },
+  data: {
+    to: 'user@example.com',
+    // Your custom fields are type-safe here!
+  }
+})
+```
+
+**Type Parameters:**
+- `T extends BaseEmailData` - Your generated Email type for full type safety
+
+**Options:**
+- `template.slug` - Template slug to render
+- `template.variables` - Variables to pass to template
+- `data` - Email data (merged with template output)
+- `collectionSlug` - Custom collection name (defaults to 'emails')
+
+### `renderTemplate(payload, slug, variables)`
+
+Render an email template without sending.
+
+```typescript
+const { html, text, subject } = await renderTemplate(
+  payload,
+  'welcome-email',
+  { name: 'John' }
+)
+```
+
+### Helper Functions
+
+- `getMailing(payload)` - Get mailing context
+- `processEmails(payload)` - Manually trigger email processing
+- `retryFailedEmails(payload)` - Manually retry failed emails
+
 ## Migration Guide (v0.0.x → v0.1.0)
 
 **🚨 BREAKING CHANGES**: The API has been simplified to use Payload collections directly.

dev/README.md

@@ -184,25 +184,43 @@ The plugin automatically processes the outbox every 5 minutes and retries failed
 ## Plugin API Usage
 
 ```javascript
-import { sendEmail, scheduleEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+import { sendEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
 
-// Send immediate email
-const emailId = await sendEmail(payload, {
-  templateId: 'welcome-template-id',
-  to: 'user@example.com',
-  variables: {
-    firstName: 'John',
-    siteName: 'My App'
+// Send immediate email with template
+const email = await sendEmail(payload, {
+  template: {
+    slug: 'welcome-email',
+    variables: {
+      firstName: 'John',
+      siteName: 'My App'
+    }
+  },
+  data: {
+    to: 'user@example.com',
   }
 })
 
-// Schedule email
-const scheduledId = await scheduleEmail(payload, {
-  templateId: 'reminder-template-id', 
-  to: 'user@example.com',
-  scheduledAt: new Date(Date.now() + 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000), // 24 hours
-  variables: {
-    eventName: 'Product Launch'
+// Schedule email for later
+const scheduledEmail = await sendEmail(payload, {
+  template: {
+    slug: 'reminder',
+    variables: {
+      eventName: 'Product Launch'
+    }
+  },
+  data: {
+    to: 'user@example.com',
+    scheduledAt: new Date(Date.now() + 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000), // 24 hours
+  }
+})
+
+// Send direct HTML email (no template)
+const directEmail = await sendEmail(payload, {
+  data: {
+    to: 'user@example.com',
+    subject: 'Direct Email',
+    html: '<h1>Hello World</h1>',
+    text: 'Hello World'
   }
 })
 ```

dev/app/api/test-email/route.ts

@@ -1,37 +1,50 @@
 import { getPayload } from 'payload'
 import config from '@payload-config'
-import { sendEmail, scheduleEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+import { sendEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
 
 export async function POST(request: Request) {
   try {
     const payload = await getPayload({ config })
     const body = await request.json()
-    const { type = 'send', templateSlug, to, variables, scheduledAt } = body
+    const { type = 'send', templateSlug, to, variables, scheduledAt, subject, html, text } = body
 
-    let result
-    if (type === 'send') {
-      // Send immediately
-      result = await sendEmail(payload, {
-        templateSlug,
+    // Use the new sendEmail API
+    const emailOptions: any = {
+      data: {
         to,
-        variables,
-      })
-    } else if (type === 'schedule') {
-      // Schedule for later
-      result = await scheduleEmail(payload, {
-        templateSlug,
-        to,
-        variables,
-        scheduledAt: scheduledAt ? new Date(scheduledAt) : new Date(Date.now() + 60000), // Default to 1 minute
-      })
-    } else {
-      return Response.json({ error: 'Invalid type. Use "send" or "schedule"' }, { status: 400 })
+      }
     }
 
+    // Add template if provided
+    if (templateSlug) {
+      emailOptions.template = {
+        slug: templateSlug,
+        variables: variables || {}
+      }
+    } else if (subject && html) {
+      // Direct email without template
+      emailOptions.data.subject = subject
+      emailOptions.data.html = html
+      if (text) {
+        emailOptions.data.text = text
+      }
+    } else {
+      return Response.json({
+        error: 'Either templateSlug or subject+html must be provided'
+      }, { status: 400 })
+    }
+
+    // Add scheduling if needed
+    if (type === 'schedule' || scheduledAt) {
+      emailOptions.data.scheduledAt = scheduledAt ? new Date(scheduledAt) : new Date(Date.now() + 60000)
+    }
+
+    const result = await sendEmail(payload, emailOptions)
+
     return Response.json({
       success: true,
-      emailId: result,
-      message: type === 'send' ? 'Email sent successfully' : 'Email scheduled successfully',
+      emailId: result.id,
+      message: scheduledAt ? 'Email scheduled successfully' : 'Email queued successfully',
     })
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Test email error:', error)

dev/payload-types.ts

@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ export interface Config {
   };
   jobs: {
     tasks: {
-      'process-email-queue': ProcessEmailQueueJob;
+      processEmails: ProcessEmailsJob;
+      'send-email': TaskSendEmail;
       inline: {
         input: unknown;
         output: unknown;
@@ -232,21 +233,17 @@ export interface Email {
    */
   template?: (string | null) | EmailTemplate;
   /**
-   * Template slug used for this email
+   * Recipient email addresses
    */
-  templateSlug?: string | null;
+  to: string[];
   /**
-   * Recipient email address(es), comma-separated
+   * CC email addresses
    */
-  to: string;
+  cc?: string[] | null;
   /**
-   * CC email address(es), comma-separated
+   * BCC email addresses
    */
-  cc?: string | null;
-  /**
-   * BCC email address(es), comma-separated
-   */
-  bcc?: string | null;
+  bcc?: string[] | null;
   /**
    * Sender email address (optional, uses default if not provided)
    */
@@ -362,7 +359,7 @@ export interface PayloadJob {
     | {
         executedAt: string;
         completedAt: string;
-        taskSlug: 'inline' | 'process-email-queue';
+        taskSlug: 'inline' | 'processEmails' | 'send-email';
         taskID: string;
         input?:
           | {
@@ -395,7 +392,7 @@ export interface PayloadJob {
         id?: string | null;
       }[]
     | null;
-  taskSlug?: ('inline' | 'process-email-queue') | null;
+  taskSlug?: ('inline' | 'processEmails' | 'send-email') | null;
   queue?: string | null;
   waitUntil?: string | null;
   processing?: boolean | null;
@@ -542,7 +539,6 @@ export interface EmailTemplatesSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
  */
 export interface EmailsSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
   template?: T;
-  templateSlug?: T;
   to?: T;
   cc?: T;
   bcc?: T;
@@ -627,12 +623,69 @@ export interface PayloadMigrationsSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
 }
 /**
  * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
- * via the `definition` "ProcessEmailQueueJob".
+ * via the `definition` "ProcessEmailsJob".
  */
-export interface ProcessEmailQueueJob {
+export interface ProcessEmailsJob {
   input?: unknown;
   output?: unknown;
 }
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "TaskSend-email".
+ */
+export interface TaskSendEmail {
+  input: {
+    /**
+     * Use a template (leave empty for direct email)
+     */
+    templateSlug?: string | null;
+    /**
+     * JSON object with variables for template rendering
+     */
+    variables?:
+      | {
+          [k: string]: unknown;
+        }
+      | unknown[]
+      | string
+      | number
+      | boolean
+      | null;
+    /**
+     * Email subject (required if not using template)
+     */
+    subject?: string | null;
+    /**
+     * HTML email content (required if not using template)
+     */
+    html?: string | null;
+    /**
+     * Plain text email content (optional)
+     */
+    text?: string | null;
+    /**
+     * Comma-separated list of email addresses
+     */
+    to: string;
+    /**
+     * Optional comma-separated list of CC email addresses
+     */
+    cc?: string | null;
+    /**
+     * Optional comma-separated list of BCC email addresses
+     */
+    bcc?: string | null;
+    /**
+     * Optional date/time to schedule email for future delivery
+     */
+    scheduledAt?: string | null;
+    /**
+     * Email priority (1 = highest, 10 = lowest)
+     */
+    priority?: number | null;
+  };
+  output?: unknown;
+}
 /**
  * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
  * via the `definition` "auth".

dev/payload.config.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 import { mongooseAdapter } from '@payloadcms/db-mongodb'
 import { lexicalEditor } from '@payloadcms/richtext-lexical'
 import {
-  BlocksFeature,
   FixedToolbarFeature,
   HeadingFeature,
   HorizontalRuleFeature,
   InlineToolbarFeature,
-  lexicalHTML,
 } from '@payloadcms/richtext-lexical'
 import { MongoMemoryReplSet } from 'mongodb-memory-server'
 import path from 'path'
@@ -17,7 +15,7 @@ import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
 import { testEmailAdapter } from './helpers/testEmailAdapter.js'
 import { seed, seedUser } from './seed.js'
 import mailingPlugin from "../src/plugin.js"
-import { sendEmail } from "../src/utils/helpers.js"
+import {sendEmail} from "@xtr-dev/payload-mailing"
 
 const filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
 const dirname = path.dirname(filename)
@@ -85,15 +83,19 @@ const buildConfigWithMemoryDB = async () => {
 
                   // Queue the welcome email using template slug
                   const emailId = await sendEmail(req.payload, {
-                    templateSlug: 'welcome-email',
-                    to: doc.email,
-                    variables: {
-                      firstName: doc.firstName || doc.email?.split('@')?.[0],
-                      siteName: 'PayloadCMS Mailing Demo',
-                      createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-                      isPremium: false,
-                      dashboardUrl: 'http://localhost:3000/admin',
+                    template: {
+                      slug: 'welcome-email',
+                      variables: {
+                        firstName: doc.firstName || doc.email?.split('@')?.[0],
+                        siteName: 'PayloadCMS Mailing Demo',
+                        createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+                        isPremium: false,
+                        dashboardUrl: 'http://localhost:3000/admin',
+                      },
                     },
+                    data: {
+                      to: doc.email,
+                    }
                   })
 
                   console.log('✅ Welcome email queued successfully. Email ID:', emailId)

dev/test-plugin.mjs

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 // Simple test to verify plugin can be imported and initialized
-import { mailingPlugin, sendEmail, scheduleEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+import { mailingPlugin, sendEmail, renderTemplate } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
 
 console.log('✅ Plugin imports successfully')
 console.log('✅ mailingPlugin:', typeof mailingPlugin)
 console.log('✅ sendEmail:', typeof sendEmail)
-console.log('✅ scheduleEmail:', typeof scheduleEmail)
+console.log('✅ renderTemplate:', typeof renderTemplate)
 
 // Test plugin configuration
 try {

dev/tsconfig.json

@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@
       "@payload-config": [
         "./payload.config.ts"
       ],
-      "temp-project": [
+      "@xtr-dev/payload-mailing": [
         "../src/index.ts"
       ],
-      "temp-project/client": [
+      "@xtr-dev/payload-mailing/client": [
         "../src/exports/client.ts"
       ],
-      "temp-project/rsc": [
+      "@xtr-dev/payload-mailing/rsc": [
         "../src/exports/rsc.ts"
       ]
     },

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@xtr-dev/payload-mailing",
-  "version": "0.1.1",
+  "version": "0.1.8",
   "description": "Template-based email system with scheduling and job processing for PayloadCMS",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@
     "dev:generate-importmap": "npm run dev:payload generate:importmap",
     "dev:generate-types": "npm run dev:payload generate:types",
     "dev:payload": "cross-env PAYLOAD_CONFIG_PATH=./dev/payload.config.ts payload",
-    "generate:importmap": "npm run dev:generate-importmap",
-    "generate:types": "npm run dev:generate-types",
+    "payload": "cross-env NODE_OPTIONS=--no-deprecation payload",
+    "generate:importmap": "npm run payload generate:importmap",
+    "generate:types": "npm run payload generate:types",
     "lint": "eslint",
     "lint:fix": "eslint ./src --fix",
     "prepublishOnly": "npm run clean && npm run build",

payload.config.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/**
+ * This config is only used to generate types.
+ */
+
+import { BaseDatabaseAdapter, buildConfig, Payload} from 'payload'
+import Emails from "./src/collections/Emails.js"
+import {createEmailTemplatesCollection} from "./src/collections/EmailTemplates.js"
+import path from "path"
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'url'
+
+const __filename = fileURLToPath(import.meta.url)
+const __dirname = path.dirname(__filename)
+
+export default buildConfig({
+  collections: [
+    Emails,
+    createEmailTemplatesCollection()
+  ],
+  db: {
+    allowIDOnCreate: undefined,
+    defaultIDType: 'number',
+    init: function (args: { payload: Payload; }): BaseDatabaseAdapter {
+      throw new Error('Function not implemented.');
+    },
+    name: undefined
+  },
+  secret: '',
+  typescript: {
+    outputFile: path.resolve(__dirname, 'src/payload-types.ts'),
+  }
+});

src/index.ts

@@ -11,7 +11,13 @@ export { MailingService } from './services/MailingService.js'
 export { default as EmailTemplates, createEmailTemplatesCollection } from './collections/EmailTemplates.js'
 export { default as Emails } from './collections/Emails.js'
 
-// Jobs are integrated into the plugin configuration
+// Jobs (includes the send email task)
+export { mailingJobs, sendEmailJob } from './jobs/index.js'
+export type { SendEmailTaskInput } from './jobs/sendEmailTask.js'
+
+// Main email sending function
+export { sendEmail, type SendEmailOptions } from './sendEmail.js'
+export { default as sendEmailDefault } from './sendEmail.js'
 
 // Utility functions for developers
 export {
@@ -19,4 +25,5 @@ export {
   renderTemplate,
   processEmails,
   retryFailedEmails,
+  parseAndValidateEmails,
 } from './utils/helpers.js'

src/jobs/index.ts

@@ -1,19 +1,35 @@
 import { processEmailsJob, ProcessEmailsJobData } from './processEmailsJob.js'
+import { sendEmailJob } from './sendEmailTask.js'
 import { MailingService } from '../services/MailingService.js'
 
-export const createMailingJobs = (mailingService: MailingService): any[] => {
-  return [
-    {
-      slug: 'processEmails',
-      handler: async ({ job, req }: { job: any; req: any }) => {
-        return processEmailsJob(
-          job as { data: ProcessEmailsJobData },
-          { req, mailingService }
-        )
-      },
-      interfaceName: 'ProcessEmailsJob',
+export const mailingJobs = [
+  {
+    slug: 'processEmails',
+    handler: async ({ job, req }: { job: any; req: any }) => {
+      // Get mailing context from payload
+      const payload = (req as any).payload
+      const mailingContext = payload.mailing
+      if (!mailingContext) {
+        throw new Error('Mailing plugin not properly initialized')
+      }
+
+      // Use the existing mailing service from context
+      await processEmailsJob(
+        job as { data: ProcessEmailsJobData },
+        { req, mailingService: mailingContext.service }
+      )
+
+      return {
+        output: {
+          success: true,
+          message: 'Email queue processing completed successfully'
+        }
+      }
     },
-  ]
-}
+    interfaceName: 'ProcessEmailsJob',
+  },
+  sendEmailJob,
+]
 
 export * from './processEmailsJob.js'
+export * from './sendEmailTask.js'

src/jobs/processEmailsJob.ts

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import type { PayloadRequest } from 'payload'
 import { MailingService } from '../services/MailingService.js'
 
 export interface ProcessEmailsJobData {
-  type: 'process-emails' | 'retry-failed'
+  // No type needed - always processes both pending and failed emails
 }
 
 export const processEmailsJob = async (
@@ -10,18 +10,19 @@ export const processEmailsJob = async (
   context: { req: PayloadRequest; mailingService: MailingService }
 ) => {
   const { mailingService } = context
-  const { type } = job.data
 
   try {
-    if (type === 'process-emails') {
-      await mailingService.processEmails()
-      console.log('Email processing completed successfully')
-    } else if (type === 'retry-failed') {
-      await mailingService.retryFailedEmails()
-      console.log('Failed email retry completed successfully')
-    }
+    console.log('🔄 Processing email queue (pending + failed emails)...')
+
+    // Process pending emails first
+    await mailingService.processEmails()
+
+    // Then retry failed emails
+    await mailingService.retryFailedEmails()
+
+    console.log('✅ Email queue processing completed successfully (pending and failed emails)')
   } catch (error) {
-    console.error(`${type} job failed:`, error)
+    console.error('❌ Email queue processing failed:', error)
     throw error
   }
 }
@@ -29,7 +30,6 @@ export const processEmailsJob = async (
 export const scheduleEmailsJob = async (
   payload: any,
   queueName: string,
-  jobType: 'process-emails' | 'retry-failed',
   delay?: number
 ) => {
   if (!payload.jobs) {
@@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ export const scheduleEmailsJob = async (
     await payload.jobs.queue({
       queue: queueName,
       task: 'processEmails',
-      input: { type: jobType },
+      input: {},
       waitUntil: delay ? new Date(Date.now() + delay) : undefined,
     })
   } catch (error) {
-    console.error(`Failed to schedule ${jobType} job:`, error)
+    console.error('Failed to schedule email processing job:', error)
   }
 }

src/jobs/sendEmailTask.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+import { sendEmail } from '../sendEmail.js'
+import { Email } from '../payload-types.js'
+
+export interface SendEmailTaskInput {
+  // Template mode fields
+  templateSlug?: string
+  variables?: Record<string, any>
+
+  // Direct email mode fields
+  subject?: string
+  html?: string
+  text?: string
+
+  // Common fields
+  to: string | string[]
+  cc?: string | string[]
+  bcc?: string | string[]
+  scheduledAt?: string // ISO date string
+  priority?: number
+
+  // Allow any additional fields that users might have in their email collection
+  [key: string]: any
+}
+
+export const sendEmailJob = {
+  slug: 'send-email',
+  label: 'Send Email',
+  inputSchema: [
+    {
+      name: 'templateSlug',
+      type: 'text' as const,
+      label: 'Template Slug',
+      admin: {
+        description: 'Use a template (leave empty for direct email)',
+        condition: (data: any) => !data.subject && !data.html
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'variables',
+      type: 'json' as const,
+      label: 'Template Variables',
+      admin: {
+        description: 'JSON object with variables for template rendering',
+        condition: (data: any) => Boolean(data.templateSlug)
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'subject',
+      type: 'text' as const,
+      label: 'Subject',
+      admin: {
+        description: 'Email subject (required if not using template)',
+        condition: (data: any) => !data.templateSlug
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'html',
+      type: 'textarea' as const,
+      label: 'HTML Content',
+      admin: {
+        description: 'HTML email content (required if not using template)',
+        condition: (data: any) => !data.templateSlug
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'text',
+      type: 'textarea' as const,
+      label: 'Text Content',
+      admin: {
+        description: 'Plain text email content (optional)',
+        condition: (data: any) => !data.templateSlug
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'to',
+      type: 'text' as const,
+      required: true,
+      label: 'To (Email Recipients)',
+      admin: {
+        description: 'Comma-separated list of email addresses'
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'cc',
+      type: 'text' as const,
+      label: 'CC (Carbon Copy)',
+      admin: {
+        description: 'Optional comma-separated list of CC email addresses'
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'bcc',
+      type: 'text' as const,
+      label: 'BCC (Blind Carbon Copy)',
+      admin: {
+        description: 'Optional comma-separated list of BCC email addresses'
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'scheduledAt',
+      type: 'date' as const,
+      label: 'Schedule For',
+      admin: {
+        description: 'Optional date/time to schedule email for future delivery'
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'priority',
+      type: 'number' as const,
+      label: 'Priority',
+      min: 1,
+      max: 10,
+      defaultValue: 5,
+      admin: {
+        description: 'Email priority (1 = highest, 10 = lowest)'
+      }
+    }
+  ],
+  handler: async ({ input, payload }: any) => {
+    // Cast input to our expected type
+    const taskInput = input as SendEmailTaskInput
+
+    try {
+      // Prepare options for sendEmail based on task input
+      const sendEmailOptions: any = {
+        data: {}
+      }
+
+      // If using template mode
+      if (taskInput.templateSlug) {
+        sendEmailOptions.template = {
+          slug: taskInput.templateSlug,
+          variables: taskInput.variables || {}
+        }
+      }
+
+      // Build data object from task input
+      const dataFields = ['to', 'cc', 'bcc', 'subject', 'html', 'text', 'scheduledAt', 'priority']
+      const additionalFields: string[] = []
+
+      // Copy standard fields
+      dataFields.forEach(field => {
+        if (taskInput[field] !== undefined) {
+          sendEmailOptions.data[field] = taskInput[field]
+        }
+      })
+
+      // Copy any additional custom fields
+      Object.keys(taskInput).forEach(key => {
+        if (!['templateSlug', 'variables', ...dataFields].includes(key)) {
+          sendEmailOptions.data[key] = taskInput[key]
+          additionalFields.push(key)
+        }
+      })
+
+      // Use the sendEmail helper to create the email
+      const email = await sendEmail<Email>(payload, sendEmailOptions)
+
+      return {
+        output: {
+          success: true,
+          emailId: email.id,
+          message: `Email queued successfully with ID: ${email.id}`,
+          mode: taskInput.templateSlug ? 'template' : 'direct',
+          templateSlug: taskInput.templateSlug || null,
+          subject: email.subject,
+          recipients: Array.isArray(email.to) ? email.to.length : 1,
+          scheduledAt: email.scheduledAt || null
+        }
+      }
+
+    } catch (error) {
+      const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error'
+      throw new Error(`Failed to queue email: ${errorMessage}`)
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+export default sendEmailJob

src/payload-types.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,431 @@
+/* tslint:disable */
+/* eslint-disable */
+/**
+ * This file was automatically generated by Payload.
+ * DO NOT MODIFY IT BY HAND. Instead, modify your source Payload config,
+ * and re-run `payload generate:types` to regenerate this file.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Supported timezones in IANA format.
+ *
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "supportedTimezones".
+ */
+export type SupportedTimezones =
+  | 'Pacific/Midway'
+  | 'Pacific/Niue'
+  | 'Pacific/Honolulu'
+  | 'Pacific/Rarotonga'
+  | 'America/Anchorage'
+  | 'Pacific/Gambier'
+  | 'America/Los_Angeles'
+  | 'America/Tijuana'
+  | 'America/Denver'
+  | 'America/Phoenix'
+  | 'America/Chicago'
+  | 'America/Guatemala'
+  | 'America/New_York'
+  | 'America/Bogota'
+  | 'America/Caracas'
+  | 'America/Santiago'
+  | 'America/Buenos_Aires'
+  | 'America/Sao_Paulo'
+  | 'Atlantic/South_Georgia'
+  | 'Atlantic/Azores'
+  | 'Atlantic/Cape_Verde'
+  | 'Europe/London'
+  | 'Europe/Berlin'
+  | 'Africa/Lagos'
+  | 'Europe/Athens'
+  | 'Africa/Cairo'
+  | 'Europe/Moscow'
+  | 'Asia/Riyadh'
+  | 'Asia/Dubai'
+  | 'Asia/Baku'
+  | 'Asia/Karachi'
+  | 'Asia/Tashkent'
+  | 'Asia/Calcutta'
+  | 'Asia/Dhaka'
+  | 'Asia/Almaty'
+  | 'Asia/Jakarta'
+  | 'Asia/Bangkok'
+  | 'Asia/Shanghai'
+  | 'Asia/Singapore'
+  | 'Asia/Tokyo'
+  | 'Asia/Seoul'
+  | 'Australia/Brisbane'
+  | 'Australia/Sydney'
+  | 'Pacific/Guam'
+  | 'Pacific/Noumea'
+  | 'Pacific/Auckland'
+  | 'Pacific/Fiji';
+
+export interface Config {
+  auth: {
+    users: UserAuthOperations;
+  };
+  blocks: {};
+  collections: {
+    emails: Email;
+    'email-templates': EmailTemplate;
+    users: User;
+    'payload-locked-documents': PayloadLockedDocument;
+    'payload-preferences': PayloadPreference;
+    'payload-migrations': PayloadMigration;
+  };
+  collectionsJoins: {};
+  collectionsSelect: {
+    emails: EmailsSelect<false> | EmailsSelect<true>;
+    'email-templates': EmailTemplatesSelect<false> | EmailTemplatesSelect<true>;
+    users: UsersSelect<false> | UsersSelect<true>;
+    'payload-locked-documents': PayloadLockedDocumentsSelect<false> | PayloadLockedDocumentsSelect<true>;
+    'payload-preferences': PayloadPreferencesSelect<false> | PayloadPreferencesSelect<true>;
+    'payload-migrations': PayloadMigrationsSelect<false> | PayloadMigrationsSelect<true>;
+  };
+  db: {
+    defaultIDType: number;
+  };
+  globals: {};
+  globalsSelect: {};
+  locale: null;
+  user: User & {
+    collection: 'users';
+  };
+  jobs: {
+    tasks: unknown;
+    workflows: unknown;
+  };
+}
+export interface UserAuthOperations {
+  forgotPassword: {
+    email: string;
+    password: string;
+  };
+  login: {
+    email: string;
+    password: string;
+  };
+  registerFirstUser: {
+    email: string;
+    password: string;
+  };
+  unlock: {
+    email: string;
+    password: string;
+  };
+}
+/**
+ * Email delivery and status tracking
+ *
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "emails".
+ */
+export interface Email {
+  id: number;
+  /**
+   * Email template used (optional if custom content provided)
+   */
+  template?: (number | null) | EmailTemplate;
+  /**
+   * Recipient email addresses
+   */
+  to: string[];
+  /**
+   * CC email addresses
+   */
+  cc?: string[] | null;
+  /**
+   * BCC email addresses
+   */
+  bcc?: string[] | null;
+  /**
+   * Sender email address (optional, uses default if not provided)
+   */
+  from?: string | null;
+  /**
+   * Reply-to email address
+   */
+  replyTo?: string | null;
+  /**
+   * Email subject line
+   */
+  subject: string;
+  /**
+   * Rendered HTML content of the email
+   */
+  html: string;
+  /**
+   * Plain text version of the email
+   */
+  text?: string | null;
+  /**
+   * Template variables used to render this email
+   */
+  variables?:
+    | {
+        [k: string]: unknown;
+      }
+    | unknown[]
+    | string
+    | number
+    | boolean
+    | null;
+  /**
+   * When this email should be sent (leave empty for immediate)
+   */
+  scheduledAt?: string | null;
+  /**
+   * When this email was actually sent
+   */
+  sentAt?: string | null;
+  /**
+   * Current status of this email
+   */
+  status: 'pending' | 'processing' | 'sent' | 'failed';
+  /**
+   * Number of send attempts made
+   */
+  attempts?: number | null;
+  /**
+   * When the last send attempt was made
+   */
+  lastAttemptAt?: string | null;
+  /**
+   * Last error message if send failed
+   */
+  error?: string | null;
+  /**
+   * Email priority (1=highest, 10=lowest)
+   */
+  priority?: number | null;
+  updatedAt: string;
+  createdAt: string;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "email-templates".
+ */
+export interface EmailTemplate {
+  id: number;
+  /**
+   * A descriptive name for this email template
+   */
+  name: string;
+  /**
+   * Unique identifier for this template (e.g., "welcome-email", "password-reset")
+   */
+  slug: string;
+  /**
+   * Email subject line. You can use Handlebars variables like {{firstName}} or {{siteName}}.
+   */
+  subject: string;
+  /**
+   * Email content with rich text formatting. Supports Handlebars variables like {{firstName}} and helpers like {{formatDate createdAt "long"}}. Content is converted to HTML and plain text automatically.
+   */
+  content: {
+    root: {
+      type: string;
+      children: {
+        type: string;
+        version: number;
+        [k: string]: unknown;
+      }[];
+      direction: ('ltr' | 'rtl') | null;
+      format: 'left' | 'start' | 'center' | 'right' | 'end' | 'justify' | '';
+      indent: number;
+      version: number;
+    };
+    [k: string]: unknown;
+  };
+  updatedAt: string;
+  createdAt: string;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "users".
+ */
+export interface User {
+  id: number;
+  updatedAt: string;
+  createdAt: string;
+  email: string;
+  resetPasswordToken?: string | null;
+  resetPasswordExpiration?: string | null;
+  salt?: string | null;
+  hash?: string | null;
+  loginAttempts?: number | null;
+  lockUntil?: string | null;
+  sessions?:
+    | {
+        id: string;
+        createdAt?: string | null;
+        expiresAt: string;
+      }[]
+    | null;
+  password?: string | null;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "payload-locked-documents".
+ */
+export interface PayloadLockedDocument {
+  id: number;
+  document?:
+    | ({
+        relationTo: 'emails';
+        value: number | Email;
+      } | null)
+    | ({
+        relationTo: 'email-templates';
+        value: number | EmailTemplate;
+      } | null)
+    | ({
+        relationTo: 'users';
+        value: number | User;
+      } | null);
+  globalSlug?: string | null;
+  user: {
+    relationTo: 'users';
+    value: number | User;
+  };
+  updatedAt: string;
+  createdAt: string;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "payload-preferences".
+ */
+export interface PayloadPreference {
+  id: number;
+  user: {
+    relationTo: 'users';
+    value: number | User;
+  };
+  key?: string | null;
+  value?:
+    | {
+        [k: string]: unknown;
+      }
+    | unknown[]
+    | string
+    | number
+    | boolean
+    | null;
+  updatedAt: string;
+  createdAt: string;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "payload-migrations".
+ */
+export interface PayloadMigration {
+  id: number;
+  name?: string | null;
+  batch?: number | null;
+  updatedAt: string;
+  createdAt: string;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "emails_select".
+ */
+export interface EmailsSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
+  template?: T;
+  to?: T;
+  cc?: T;
+  bcc?: T;
+  from?: T;
+  replyTo?: T;
+  subject?: T;
+  html?: T;
+  text?: T;
+  variables?: T;
+  scheduledAt?: T;
+  sentAt?: T;
+  status?: T;
+  attempts?: T;
+  lastAttemptAt?: T;
+  error?: T;
+  priority?: T;
+  updatedAt?: T;
+  createdAt?: T;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "email-templates_select".
+ */
+export interface EmailTemplatesSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
+  name?: T;
+  slug?: T;
+  subject?: T;
+  content?: T;
+  updatedAt?: T;
+  createdAt?: T;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "users_select".
+ */
+export interface UsersSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
+  updatedAt?: T;
+  createdAt?: T;
+  email?: T;
+  resetPasswordToken?: T;
+  resetPasswordExpiration?: T;
+  salt?: T;
+  hash?: T;
+  loginAttempts?: T;
+  lockUntil?: T;
+  sessions?:
+    | T
+    | {
+        id?: T;
+        createdAt?: T;
+        expiresAt?: T;
+      };
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "payload-locked-documents_select".
+ */
+export interface PayloadLockedDocumentsSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
+  document?: T;
+  globalSlug?: T;
+  user?: T;
+  updatedAt?: T;
+  createdAt?: T;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "payload-preferences_select".
+ */
+export interface PayloadPreferencesSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
+  user?: T;
+  key?: T;
+  value?: T;
+  updatedAt?: T;
+  createdAt?: T;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "payload-migrations_select".
+ */
+export interface PayloadMigrationsSelect<T extends boolean = true> {
+  name?: T;
+  batch?: T;
+  updatedAt?: T;
+  createdAt?: T;
+}
+/**
+ * This interface was referenced by `Config`'s JSON-Schema
+ * via the `definition` "auth".
+ */
+export interface Auth {
+  [k: string]: unknown;
+}
+
+
+declare module 'payload' {
+  export interface GeneratedTypes extends Config {}
+}

src/plugin.ts

@@ -3,53 +3,8 @@ import { MailingPluginConfig, MailingContext } from './types/index.js'
 import { MailingService } from './services/MailingService.js'
 import { createEmailTemplatesCollection } from './collections/EmailTemplates.js'
 import Emails from './collections/Emails.js'
+import { mailingJobs, scheduleEmailsJob } from './jobs/index.js'
 
-// Helper function to schedule the email processing job
-async function scheduleEmailProcessingJob(payload: any, queueName: string, delayMs: number = 60000): Promise<boolean> {
-  if (!queueName || typeof queueName !== 'string') {
-    throw new Error('Invalid queueName: must be a non-empty string')
-  }
-
-  const jobSlug = 'process-email-queue'
-
-  // Check if there's already a scheduled job for this task
-  const existingJobs = await payload.find({
-    collection: 'payload-jobs',
-    where: {
-      and: [
-        {
-          taskSlug: {
-            equals: jobSlug,
-          },
-        },
-        {
-          hasCompleted: {
-            equals: false,
-          },
-        },
-      ],
-    },
-    limit: 1,
-  })
-
-  // If no existing job, schedule a new one
-  if (existingJobs.docs.length === 0) {
-    await payload.create({
-      collection: 'payload-jobs',
-      data: {
-        taskSlug: jobSlug,
-        input: {},
-        queue: queueName,
-        waitUntil: new Date(Date.now() + delayMs),
-      },
-    })
-    console.log(`🔄 Scheduled email processing job in queue: ${queueName}`)
-    return true
-  } else {
-    console.log(`✅ Email processing job already scheduled in queue: ${queueName}`)
-    return false
-  }
-}
 
 export const mailingPlugin = (pluginConfig: MailingPluginConfig) => (config: Config): Config => {
   const queueName = pluginConfig.queue || 'default'
@@ -59,6 +14,7 @@ export const mailingPlugin = (pluginConfig: MailingPluginConfig) => (config: Con
     throw new Error('Invalid queue configuration: queue must be a non-empty string')
   }
 
+
   // Handle templates collection configuration
   const templatesConfig = pluginConfig.collections?.templates
   const templatesSlug = typeof templatesConfig === 'string' ? templatesConfig : 'email-templates'
@@ -129,61 +85,7 @@ export const mailingPlugin = (pluginConfig: MailingPluginConfig) => (config: Con
       ...(config.jobs || {}),
       tasks: [
         ...(config.jobs?.tasks || []),
-        {
-          slug: 'process-email-queue',
-          handler: async ({ job, req }: { job: any; req: any }) => {
-            const payload = (req as any).payload
-            let jobResult = null
-
-            try {
-              const mailingService = new MailingService(payload, pluginConfig)
-
-              console.log('🔄 Processing email queue (pending + failed emails)...')
-
-              // Process pending emails first
-              await mailingService.processEmails()
-
-              // Then retry failed emails
-              await mailingService.retryFailedEmails()
-
-              jobResult = {
-                output: {
-                  success: true,
-                  message: 'Email queue processed successfully (pending and failed emails)'
-                }
-              }
-
-              console.log('✅ Email queue processing completed successfully')
-
-            } catch (error) {
-              console.error('❌ Error processing email queue:', error)
-              const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error'
-
-              jobResult = new Error(`Email queue processing failed: ${errorMessage}`)
-            }
-
-            // Always reschedule the next job (success or failure) using duplicate prevention
-            let rescheduled = false
-            try {
-              rescheduled = await scheduleEmailProcessingJob(payload, queueName, 300000) // Reschedule in 5 minutes
-              if (rescheduled) {
-                console.log(`🔄 Rescheduled next email processing job in ${queueName} queue`)
-              }
-            } catch (rescheduleError) {
-              console.error('❌ Failed to reschedule email processing job:', rescheduleError)
-              // If rescheduling fails, we should warn but not fail the current job
-              // since the email processing itself may have succeeded
-              console.warn('⚠️  Email processing completed but next job could not be scheduled')
-            }
-
-            // Return the original result or throw the error
-            if (jobResult instanceof Error) {
-              throw jobResult
-            }
-            return jobResult
-          },
-          interfaceName: 'ProcessEmailQueueJob',
-        },
+        ...mailingJobs,
       ],
     },
     onInit: async (payload: any) => {
@@ -191,7 +93,7 @@ export const mailingPlugin = (pluginConfig: MailingPluginConfig) => (config: Con
         await config.onInit(payload)
       }
 
-      // Initialize mailing service
+      // Initialize mailing service with proper payload instance
       const mailingService = new MailingService(payload, pluginConfig)
 
       // Add mailing context to payload for developer access
@@ -207,9 +109,10 @@ export const mailingPlugin = (pluginConfig: MailingPluginConfig) => (config: Con
 
       console.log('PayloadCMS Mailing Plugin initialized successfully')
 
-      // Schedule the email processing job if not already scheduled
+      // Schedule the initial email processing job
       try {
-        await scheduleEmailProcessingJob(payload, queueName)
+        await scheduleEmailsJob(payload, queueName, 60000) // Schedule in 1 minute
+        console.log(`🔄 Scheduled initial email processing job in queue: ${queueName}`)
       } catch (error) {
         console.error('Failed to schedule email processing job:', error)
       }

src/sendEmail.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+import { Payload } from 'payload'
+import { getMailing, renderTemplate, parseAndValidateEmails } from './utils/helpers.js'
+import {Email} from "./payload-types.js"
+
+// Options for sending emails
+export interface SendEmailOptions<T extends Email = Email> {
+  // Template-based email
+  template?: {
+    slug: string
+    variables?: Record<string, any>
+  }
+  // Direct email data
+  data?: Partial<T>
+  // Common options
+  collectionSlug?: string // defaults to 'emails'
+}
+
+/**
+ * Send an email with full type safety
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```typescript
+ * // With your generated Email type
+ * import { Email } from './payload-types'
+ *
+ * const email = await sendEmail<Email>(payload, {
+ *   template: {
+ *     slug: 'welcome',
+ *     variables: { name: 'John' }
+ *   },
+ *   data: {
+ *     to: 'user@example.com',
+ *     customField: 'value' // Your custom fields are type-safe!
+ *   }
+ * })
+ * ```
+ */
+export const sendEmail = async <T extends Email = Email>(
+  payload: Payload,
+  options: SendEmailOptions<T>
+): Promise<T> => {
+  const mailing = getMailing(payload)
+  const collectionSlug = options.collectionSlug || mailing.collections.emails || 'emails'
+
+  let emailData: Partial<T> = { ...options.data } as Partial<T>
+
+  // If using a template, render it first
+  if (options.template) {
+    const { html, text, subject } = await renderTemplate(
+      payload,
+      options.template.slug,
+      options.template.variables || {}
+    )
+
+    // Template values take precedence over data values
+    emailData = {
+      ...emailData,
+      subject,
+      html,
+      text,
+    } as Partial<T>
+  }
+
+  // Validate required fields
+  if (!emailData.to) {
+    throw new Error('Field "to" is required for sending emails')
+  }
+
+  // Validate required fields based on whether template was used
+  if (options.template) {
+    // When using template, subject and html should have been set by renderTemplate
+    if (!emailData.subject || !emailData.html) {
+      throw new Error(`Template rendering failed: template "${options.template.slug}" did not provide required subject and html content`)
+    }
+  } else {
+    // When not using template, user must provide subject and html directly
+    if (!emailData.subject || !emailData.html) {
+      throw new Error('Fields "subject" and "html" are required when sending direct emails without a template')
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Process email addresses using shared validation (handle null values)
+  if (emailData.to) {
+    emailData.to = parseAndValidateEmails(emailData.to as string | string[])
+  }
+  if (emailData.cc) {
+    emailData.cc = parseAndValidateEmails(emailData.cc as string | string[])
+  }
+  if (emailData.bcc) {
+    emailData.bcc = parseAndValidateEmails(emailData.bcc as string | string[])
+  }
+
+  // Create the email in the collection with proper typing
+  const email = await payload.create({
+    collection: collectionSlug,
+    data: emailData
+  })
+
+  return email as T
+}
+
+export default sendEmail

src/services/MailingService.ts

@@ -13,12 +13,13 @@ import {
 import { serializeRichTextToHTML, serializeRichTextToText } from '../utils/richTextSerializer.js'
 
 export class MailingService implements IMailingService {
-  private payload: Payload
+  public payload: Payload
   private config: MailingPluginConfig
   private transporter!: Transporter | any
   private templatesCollection: string
   private emailsCollection: string
   private liquid: Liquid | null | false = null
+  private transporterInitialized = false
 
   constructor(payload: Payload, config: MailingPluginConfig) {
     this.payload = payload
@@ -30,10 +31,15 @@ export class MailingService implements IMailingService {
     const emailsConfig = config.collections?.emails
     this.emailsCollection = typeof emailsConfig === 'string' ? emailsConfig : 'emails'
 
-    this.initializeTransporter()
+    // Only initialize transporter if payload is properly set
+    if (payload && payload.db) {
+      this.initializeTransporter()
+    }
   }
 
   private initializeTransporter(): void {
+    if (this.transporterInitialized) return
+
     if (this.config.transport) {
       if ('sendMail' in this.config.transport) {
         this.transporter = this.config.transport
@@ -46,6 +52,17 @@ export class MailingService implements IMailingService {
     } else {
       throw new Error('Email transport configuration is required either in plugin config or Payload config')
     }
+
+    this.transporterInitialized = true
+  }
+
+  private ensureInitialized(): void {
+    if (!this.payload || !this.payload.db) {
+      throw new Error('MailingService payload not properly initialized')
+    }
+    if (!this.transporterInitialized) {
+      this.initializeTransporter()
+    }
   }
 
   private getDefaultFrom(): string {
@@ -108,6 +125,7 @@ export class MailingService implements IMailingService {
   }
 
   async renderTemplate(templateSlug: string, variables: TemplateVariables): Promise<{ html: string; text: string; subject: string }> {
+    this.ensureInitialized()
     const template = await this.getTemplateBySlug(templateSlug)
 
     if (!template) {
@@ -125,6 +143,7 @@ export class MailingService implements IMailingService {
   }
 
   async processEmails(): Promise<void> {
+    this.ensureInitialized()
     const currentTime = new Date().toISOString()
 
     const { docs: pendingEmails } = await this.payload.find({
@@ -162,6 +181,7 @@ export class MailingService implements IMailingService {
   }
 
   async retryFailedEmails(): Promise<void> {
+    this.ensureInitialized()
     const maxAttempts = this.config.retryAttempts || 3
     const retryDelay = this.config.retryDelay || 300000 // 5 minutes
     const retryTime = new Date(Date.now() - retryDelay).toISOString()

src/utils/helpers.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,41 @@
 import { Payload } from 'payload'
 import { TemplateVariables } from '../types/index.js'
 
+/**
+ * Parse and validate email addresses
+ * @internal
+ */
+export const parseAndValidateEmails = (emails: string | string[] | null | undefined): string[] | undefined => {
+  if (!emails || emails === null) return undefined
+
+  let emailList: string[]
+  if (Array.isArray(emails)) {
+    emailList = emails
+  } else {
+    emailList = emails.split(',').map(email => email.trim()).filter(Boolean)
+  }
+
+  // RFC 5322 compliant email validation
+  const emailRegex = /^[a-zA-Z0-9.!#$%&'*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+@[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]{0,61}[a-zA-Z0-9])?(?:\.[a-zA-Z0-9](?:[a-zA-Z0-9-]{0,61}[a-zA-Z0-9])?)*$/
+  const invalidEmails = emailList.filter(email => {
+    // Check basic format
+    if (!emailRegex.test(email)) return true
+    // Check for common invalid patterns
+    if (email.includes('..') || email.startsWith('.') || email.endsWith('.')) return true
+    if (email.includes('@.') || email.includes('.@')) return true
+    // Check domain has at least one dot
+    const parts = email.split('@')
+    if (parts.length !== 2 || !parts[1].includes('.')) return true
+    return false
+  })
+
+  if (invalidEmails.length > 0) {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid email addresses: ${invalidEmails.join(', ')}`)
+  }
+
+  return emailList
+}
+
 export const getMailing = (payload: Payload) => {
   const mailing = (payload as any).mailing
   if (!mailing) {