Consider exporting `StatsBase.sample` from `Statistics` stdlib

[juliohm]

This is a feature request to consider exporting basic names such as sample defined in StatsBasefrom theStatistics` stdlib.

Right now whenever we need access to the sample function, we need this extra import, which seems suboptimal:

using Statistics # cool, we load anything related  to stats
using StatsBase # urgh, we still need this for sample, and other functions

It seems reasonable to reexport StatsBase from Statistics. That would solve a bunch of name-related issues:

• https://github.com/JuliaLang/julia/issues/29974
• move stats functions from Base to StatsBase, move StatsBase to stdlib? #27140

The long-term solution is to move the code as well, but meanwhile, I think we could just reexport the names.

[KristofferC]

StatsBase is not a part of the Julia stdlib so how can Statistics reexport the names?

Also, the general philosophy is to try move things out of the Julia repo so

The long-term solution is to move the code as well

would mean to move the code in Statistics to StatsBase.

[nickrobinson251]

The long-term solution is to move the code as well

would mean to move the code in Statistics to StatsBase.

I'll note that there's still work on moving things in the direction StatsBase -> Statistics

• Import weighted stats and moments from StatsBase to Statistics #31395
• Release StatsBase.jl v1.0 JuliaStats/StatsBase.jl#493

[juliohm]

I am confused about the names. I thought that Statistics would be the de-facto name for anything statistics-related, so users of the language wouldn't need to care about this "*Base" business, and would just get the names with a single import.

There are multiple packages doing slightly different things:

• StatsBase.jl
• Statistics
• StatsKit.jl

I understand that StatsKit.jl is broader and will reexport models, dataframes, etc. But the existence of StatsBase.jl together with Statistics is still confusing to me.

[juliohm]

Initially I thought that StatsBase.jl contained the foundations for stats-related work. Including all possible names. Then a package like Statistics would reexport all packages that implement the concepts.

Now I learned that StatsBase.jl is not even used by Statistics, I am not sure if these directions are clear to everyone.

[KristofferC]

Yeah, since StatsBase isn't used by Statistics there is nothing that can be reexported.

[nalimilan]

StatsBase is supposed to be removed at some point, after its features have been moved either to Statistics or to more specific packages. Not sure which applies here.

[juliohm]

That sounds like a good plan. Moving the functionality to either Statistics or some other specialized packages seems helpful.