[v5] condence API to remove /actions

[tomByrer]

To me doing imports like this is cumbersome & frustrating for newbies:

import { actions, createMachine, ...} from 'xstate'
const { after, cancel, choose, done, escalate, log, pure, raise, respond, start, stop } = actions

I'd much rather not have to copy/paste the entire actions API (I won't remember where is commend is from), & have everything exported directly from xstate:

import { actions, after, cancel, choose, done, escalate, log, pure, raise, respond, start, stop, createMachine, ...} from 'xstate'

Maybe this is minor & not worth the change? Normally I would not complain, but since you're thinking of a v5 & changing some of the API anyhow, perhaps make importing a bit easier?

[davidkpiano]

What are your thoughts on using actions.<actionCreator>?

import { actions } from 'xstate';

// ...
entry: actions.forwardTo(/* ... */) // etc.

Still too cumbersome?

[Andarist]

I believe that we should stick to a single way of importing things.

1. either stop exporting individual actions and just leave the actions export:

import { actions } from 'xstate'
actions.assign(/* ... */)

2. or do the same but move actions to a separate entry:

import * as actions from 'xstate/actions'
actions.assign(/* ... */)

import { send } from 'xstate/actions'
send(/* ... */)

3. or just export everything "flat" from the root entry and remove the actions export

import { assign } from 'xstate'
assign(/* ... */)

Personally, I would rank them in such order: 2 > 3 > 1

Note that I have also been maintaining a fairly popular project: redux-saga that comes with a very similar redux-saga/effects entry point and I don't recall a single issue about users complaining that this is confusing in over 3-4 years.

And also note that we plan to introduce some more entry points (like xstate/guards) in v5 so the second option makes the most sense to me as it would not be a single additional entry point but we'd actually have more like this.

[davidkpiano]

I think in v5, you're right - 2. seems like the best choice.

[tomByrer]

My preference would be 3 > 2 > 1, but the margin between 3 & 2 would be very small. I'd be OK with your choice, just needs to be well documented (eg several times for slow learners like me ;) ).