diff --git a/docs/source/extensions/actions.rst b/docs/source/extensions/actions.rst
index 4a446340..e68a614a 100644
--- a/docs/source/extensions/actions.rst
+++ b/docs/source/extensions/actions.rst
@@ -9,12 +9,11 @@ Thing Actions "invoke a function of the Thing, which manipulates state (e.g., to
 
 Actions should be *triggered* with POST requests *only*. Ideally, a view corresponding to an action should only support POST requests.
 
-Like properties, we use a class decorator to identify a view as an action: ``@ThingAction``. For example, a view to perform a "quick-capture" action may look like:
+Like properties, we use a special view class to identify a view as an action: ``ActionView``. For example, a view to perform a "quick-capture" action may look like:
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
-    @ThingAction
-    class QuickCaptureAPI(View):
+    class QuickCaptureAPI(ActionView):
         """
         Take an image capture and return it without saving
         """
@@ -44,8 +43,6 @@ Like properties, we use a class decorator to identify a view as an action: ``@Th
 
 In this example, we are also making use of the ``@doc_response`` decorator, to document that our successful response (HTTP code 200) will return data with a mimetype ``image/jpeg``, as well as ``@use_args`` to accept optional parameters with POST requests.
 
-Again like properties, the ``@ThingAction`` decorator serves only to add documentation.
-
 Complete example
 ----------------
 
diff --git a/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/04_properties.py b/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/04_properties.py
index 922270a5..68d06933 100644
--- a/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/04_properties.py
+++ b/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/04_properties.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from labthings.server.extensions import BaseExtension
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, PropertyView
 
 from labthings.server.decorators import (
     use_args,
@@ -36,8 +36,7 @@ def rename(microscope, new_name):
 ## Extension views
 
 # Since we only have a GET method here, it'll register as a read-only property
-@ThingProperty
-class ExampleIdentifyView(View):
+class ExampleIdentifyView(PropertyView):
     # Format our returned object using MicroscopeIdentifySchema
     @marshal_with(MicroscopeIdentifySchema())
     def get(self):
@@ -52,11 +51,10 @@ class ExampleIdentifyView(View):
         return microscope
 
 
-@ThingProperty
 # We can use a single schema for all methods if the input and output will be formatted identically
 # Eg. Here, we will always expect a "name" string argument, and always return a "name" string attribute
 @PropertySchema({"name": fields.String(required=True, example="My Example Microscope")})
-class ExampleRenameView(View):
+class ExampleRenameView(PropertyView):
     def get(self):
         """
         Show the current microscope name
diff --git a/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/05_actions.py b/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/05_actions.py
index dc3826a0..e67711d4 100644
--- a/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/05_actions.py
+++ b/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/05_actions.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from labthings.server.extensions import BaseExtension
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, ActionView, PropertyView
 
 from labthings.server.decorators import (
     use_args,
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ def rename(microscope, new_name):
 ## Extension views
 
 # Since we only have a GET method here, it'll register as a read-only property
-@ThingProperty
-class ExampleIdentifyView(View):
+class ExampleIdentifyView(PropertyView):
     # Format our returned object using MicroscopeIdentifySchema
     @marshal_with(MicroscopeIdentifySchema())
     def get(self):
@@ -57,11 +56,10 @@ class ExampleIdentifyView(View):
         return microscope
 
 
-@ThingProperty
 # We can use a single schema for all methods if the input and output will be formatted identically
 # Eg. Here, we will always expect a "name" string argument, and always return a "name" string attribute
 @PropertySchema({"name": fields.String(required=True, example="My Example Microscope")})
-class ExampleRenameView(View):
+class ExampleRenameView(PropertyView):
     def get(self):
         """
         Show the current microscope name
@@ -89,8 +87,7 @@ class ExampleRenameView(View):
         return microscope
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class QuickCaptureAPI(View):
+class QuickCaptureAPI(ActionView):
     """
     Take an image capture and return it without saving
     """
diff --git a/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/06_tasks_locks.py b/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/06_tasks_locks.py
index 1f1e680c..0d2e435d 100644
--- a/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/06_tasks_locks.py
+++ b/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/06_tasks_locks.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from labthings.server.extensions import BaseExtension
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, ActionView
 
 from labthings.server.decorators import (
     use_args,
@@ -66,8 +66,7 @@ def timelapse(microscope, n_images, t_between):
 ## Extension views
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class TimelapseAPI(View):
+class TimelapseAPI(ActionView):
     """
     Take a series of images in a timelapse
     """
diff --git a/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/07_ev_gui.py b/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/07_ev_gui.py
index 7ce55ebd..0726020f 100644
--- a/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/07_ev_gui.py
+++ b/docs/source/extensions/example_extension/07_ev_gui.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from labthings.server.extensions import BaseExtension
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, ActionView
 
 from labthings.server.decorators import (
     use_args,
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ def timelapse(microscope, n_images, t_between):
 ## Extension views
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class TimelapseAPI(View):
+class TimelapseAPI(ActionView):
     """
     Take a series of images in a timelapse, running as a background task
     """
diff --git a/docs/source/extensions/properties.rst b/docs/source/extensions/properties.rst
index 2e84a5e6..cb23761e 100644
--- a/docs/source/extensions/properties.rst
+++ b/docs/source/extensions/properties.rst
@@ -14,13 +14,12 @@ The property description for a view will be generated automatically from your av
 Defining Thing Properties
 -------------------------
 
-In order to register a view as a Thing property, we use the ``@ThingProperty`` decorator, like so:
+In order to register a view as a Thing property, we use the ``PropertyView`` class, like so:
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
     # Since we only have a GET method here, it'll register as a read-only property
-    @ThingProperty
-    class ExampleIdentifyView(View):
+    class ExampleIdentifyView(PropertyView):
         # Format our returned object using MicroscopeIdentifySchema
         @marshal_with(MicroscopeIdentifySchema())
         def get(self):
@@ -78,11 +77,10 @@ We will implement the ``@PropertySchema`` decorator in our ``ExampleRenameView``
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
-    @ThingProperty
     # We can use a single schema for all methods if the input and output will be formatted identically
     # Eg. Here, we will always expect a "name" string argument, and always return a "name" string attribute
     @PropertySchema({"name": fields.String(required=True, example="My Example Microscope")})
-    class ExampleRenameView(View):
+    class ExampleRenameView(PropertyView):
         def get(self):
             """
             Show the current microscope name
diff --git a/docs/source/extensions/tasks_locks.rst b/docs/source/extensions/tasks_locks.rst
index 816a9d8a..6ff7b888 100644
--- a/docs/source/extensions/tasks_locks.rst
+++ b/docs/source/extensions/tasks_locks.rst
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ We get around these issues by making use of background tasks, and component lock
 Background tasks
 ----------------
 
-Tasks are introduced to manage long-running functions in a way that does not block HTTP requests. Any API Action will automatically run as a background task (that is, any View that subclasses `ActionView`, or uses the `@ThingAction` decorator).
+Tasks are introduced to manage long-running functions in a way that does not block HTTP requests. Any API Action will automatically run as a background task (that is, any View that subclasses `ActionView`).
 
 Internally, the ``tasks`` submodule stores a list of all requested tasks, and their states. This state stores the running status of the task (if itis idle, running, error, or success), information about the start and end times, a unique task ID, and, upon completion, the return value of the long-running function. 
 
@@ -30,11 +30,9 @@ An example of a long running task may look like:
 .. code-block:: python
 
     ...
-    from labthings.tasks import taskify
-    from labthings.server.decorators import ThingAction
+    from labthings.server.view import ActionView
 
-    @ThingAction
-    class SlowAPI(View):
+    class SlowAPI(ActionView):
         def post(self):
             # Return the task object.
             return long_running_function(function_argument_1, function_argument_2)
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autofocus.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autofocus.py
index 8bc6ba7f..84ccb76d 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autofocus.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autofocus.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
 from labthings.server.extensions import BaseExtension
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, ActionView, PropertyView
 from labthings.server.decorators import ThingAction, ThingProperty
 
 from openflexure_microscope.devel import JsonResponse, request, abort
@@ -332,8 +332,7 @@ class MeasureSharpnessAPI(View):
         return {"sharpness": measure_sharpness(microscope)}
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class AutofocusAPI(View):
+class AutofocusAPI(ActionView):
     """
     Run a standard autofocus
     """
@@ -357,8 +356,7 @@ class AutofocusAPI(View):
             abort(503, "No stage connected. Unable to autofocus.")
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class FastAutofocusAPI(View):
+class FastAutofocusAPI(ActionView):
     """
     Run a fast autofocus
     """
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autostorage.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autostorage.py
index c949b9c3..da282827 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autostorage.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/autostorage.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from labthings.server.extensions import BaseExtension
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, PropertyView
 from labthings.server.decorators import ThingProperty, PropertySchema, use_args
 from labthings.server import fields
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
@@ -190,8 +190,7 @@ class AutostorageExtension(BaseExtension):
 autostorage_extension_v2 = AutostorageExtension()
 
 
-@ThingProperty
-class GetLocationsView(View):
+class GetLocationsView(PropertyView):
     def get(self):
         global autostorage_extension_v2
 
@@ -199,9 +198,8 @@ class GetLocationsView(View):
         return autostorage_extension_v2.get_locations()
 
 
-@ThingProperty
 @PropertySchema(fields.String(required=True, example="Default"))
-class PreferredLocationView(View):
+class PreferredLocationView(PropertyView):
     def get(self):
         global autostorage_extension_v2
 
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/camera_stage_mapping/extension.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/camera_stage_mapping/extension.py
index 76732a38..4da67f9f 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/camera_stage_mapping/extension.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/camera_stage_mapping/extension.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ API extension for stage calibration
 
 This file contains the HTTP API for camera/stage calibration.
 """
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, ActionView, PropertyView
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
 from labthings.server.extensions import BaseExtension
 from labthings.server.decorators import (
@@ -139,8 +139,7 @@ class CSMExtension(BaseExtension):
 csm_extension = CSMExtension()
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class Calibrate1DView(View):
+class Calibrate1DView(ActionView):
     @use_args(
         {"direction": fields.List(fields.Float(), required=True, example=[1, 0, 0])}
     )
@@ -155,8 +154,7 @@ class Calibrate1DView(View):
 csm_extension.add_view(Calibrate1DView, "/calibrate_1d", endpoint="calibrate_1d")
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class CalibrateXYView(View):
+class CalibrateXYView(ActionView):
     def post(self):
         """Calibrate both axes of the microscope stage against the camera."""
         return csm_extension.calibrate_xy()
@@ -165,8 +163,7 @@ class CalibrateXYView(View):
 csm_extension.add_view(CalibrateXYView, "/calibrate_xy", endpoint="calibrate_xy")
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class MoveInImageCoordinatesView(View):
+class MoveInImageCoordinatesView(ActionView):
     @use_args(
         {
             "x": fields.Float(
@@ -194,8 +191,7 @@ class MoveInImageCoordinatesView(View):
 csm_extension.add_view(MoveInImageCoordinatesView, "/move_in_image_coordinates", endpoint="move_in_image_coordinates")
 
 
-@ThingProperty
-class GetCalibrationFile(View):
+class GetCalibrationFile(PropertyView):
     def get(self):
         """Get the calibration data in JSON format."""
         datafile_name = CSM_DATAFILE_NAME
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/picamera_autocalibrate/extension.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/picamera_autocalibrate/extension.py
index 8b0c11d7..5a6f4b21 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/picamera_autocalibrate/extension.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/picamera_autocalibrate/extension.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, ActionView
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
 from labthings.server.extensions import BaseExtension
 from labthings.server.decorators import ThingAction
@@ -58,8 +58,7 @@ def recalibrate(microscope):
     microscope.save_settings()
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class RecalibrateView(View):
+class RecalibrateView(ActionView):
     def post(self):
         microscope = find_component("org.openflexure.microscope")
 
@@ -71,8 +70,7 @@ class RecalibrateView(View):
         return recalibrate(microscope)
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class FlattenLSTView(View):
+class FlattenLSTView(ActionView):
     def post(self):
         microscope = find_component("org.openflexure.microscope")
 
@@ -95,8 +93,7 @@ class FlattenLSTView(View):
             )
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class DeleteLSTView(View):
+class DeleteLSTView(ActionView):
     def post(self):
         microscope = find_component("org.openflexure.microscope")
 
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/zip_builder.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/zip_builder.py
index 5deb2586..62d3adfe 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/zip_builder.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/default_extensions/zip_builder.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import tempfile
 import logging
 
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, ActionView, PropertyView
 from labthings.server.schema import Schema
 from labthings.server import fields
 from labthings.server.extensions import BaseExtension
@@ -138,8 +138,7 @@ class ZipManager:
 default_zip_manager = ZipManager()
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class ZipBuilderAPIView(View):
+class ZipBuilderAPIView(ActionView):
     def post(self):
 
         ids = list(JsonResponse(request).json)
@@ -151,8 +150,7 @@ class ZipBuilderAPIView(View):
         )
 
 
-@ThingProperty
-class ZipListAPIView(View):
+class ZipListAPIView(PropertyView):
     @marshal_with(ZipObjectSchema(many=True))
     def get(self):
         return default_zip_manager.session_zips.values()
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/camera.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/camera.py
index 9e8c6d8a..56f2e215 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/camera.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/camera.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from openflexure_microscope.api.utilities import get_bool, JsonResponse
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, ActionView
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
 from labthings.server.decorators import (
     use_args,
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@ import io
 from flask import request, abort, url_for, redirect, send_file
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class CaptureAPI(View):
+class CaptureAPI(ActionView):
     """
     Create a new image capture. 
     """
@@ -75,8 +74,7 @@ class CaptureAPI(View):
 
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class RAMCaptureAPI(View):
+class RAMCaptureAPI(ActionView):
     """
     Take a non-persistant image capture.
     """
@@ -124,8 +122,7 @@ class RAMCaptureAPI(View):
             return send_file(io.BytesIO(stream.getbuffer()), mimetype="image/jpeg")
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class GPUPreviewStartAPI(View):
+class GPUPreviewStartAPI(ActionView):
     """
     Start the onboard GPU preview.
     Optional "window" parameter can be passed to control the position and size of the preview window,
@@ -157,8 +154,7 @@ class GPUPreviewStartAPI(View):
         return microscope.state
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class GPUPreviewStopAPI(View):
+class GPUPreviewStopAPI(ActionView):
     def post(self):
         """
         Stop the onboard GPU preview.
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/stage.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/stage.py
index 265e7437..14a5ceed 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/stage.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/stage.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from openflexure_microscope.api.utilities import JsonResponse
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, ActionView
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
 from labthings.server.decorators import use_args, marshal_with, doc, ThingAction
 from labthings.server import fields
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ from flask import Blueprint, request
 import logging
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class MoveStageAPI(View):
+class MoveStageAPI(ActionView):
     @use_args(
         {
             "absolute": fields.Boolean(
@@ -56,8 +55,7 @@ class MoveStageAPI(View):
         return microscope.state["stage"]["position"]
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class ZeroStageAPI(View):
+class ZeroStageAPI(ActionView):
     def post(self):
         """
         Zero the stage coordinates.
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/system.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/system.py
index df002df1..d8756891 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/system.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/actions/system.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, ActionView
 import subprocess
 import os
 from sys import platform
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@ def is_raspberrypi(raise_on_errors=False):
     return os.path.exists("/usr/bin/raspi-config")
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class ShutdownAPI(View):
+class ShutdownAPI(ActionView):
     """
     Attempt to shutdown the device 
     """
@@ -35,8 +34,7 @@ class ShutdownAPI(View):
         return {"out": out, "err": err}, 201
 
 
-@ThingAction
-class RebootAPI(View):
+class RebootAPI(ActionView):
     """
     Attempt to reboot the device 
     """
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/captures.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/captures.py
index 70bb03d2..b4b00e04 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/captures.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/captures.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from openflexure_microscope.api.utilities import get_bool, JsonResponse
 
 from labthings.server.schema import Schema
 from labthings.server import fields
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, PropertyView
 from labthings.server.utilities import description_from_view
 from labthings.server.decorators import marshal_with, doc_response, Tag, ThingProperty
 
@@ -91,9 +91,8 @@ capture_list_schema = CaptureSchema(many=True)
 from pprint import pprint
 
 
-@ThingProperty
 @Tag("captures")
-class CaptureList(View):
+class CaptureList(PropertyView):
     @marshal_with(CaptureSchema(many=True))
     def get(self):
         """
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/instrument.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/instrument.py
index f3c6f67f..3a51633e 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/instrument.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/instrument.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from openflexure_microscope.api.utilities import JsonResponse
 from labthings.core.utilities import get_by_path, set_by_path, create_from_path
 
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, PropertyView
 
 from labthings.server.decorators import ThingProperty, Tag, doc_response
 
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ from flask import request, abort
 import logging
 
 
-@ThingProperty
-class SettingsProperty(View):
+class SettingsProperty(PropertyView):
     def get(self):
         """
         Current microscope settings, including camera and stage
@@ -71,8 +70,7 @@ class NestedSettingsProperty(View):
         return self.get(route)
 
 
-@ThingProperty
-class StateProperty(View):
+class StateProperty(PropertyView):
     def get(self):
         """
         Show current read-only state of the microscope
@@ -99,8 +97,7 @@ class NestedStateProperty(View):
         return value
 
 
-@ThingProperty
-class ConfigurationProperty(View):
+class ConfigurationProperty(PropertyView):
     def get(self):
         """
         Show current read-only state of the microscope
diff --git a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/streams.py b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/streams.py
index 73ffd258..7fe23d2d 100644
--- a/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/streams.py
+++ b/openflexure_microscope/api/v2/views/streams.py
@@ -3,14 +3,13 @@ from openflexure_microscope.api.utilities import gen, JsonResponse
 from labthings.core.utilities import get_by_path, set_by_path, create_from_path
 
 from labthings.server.find import find_component
-from labthings.server.view import View
+from labthings.server.view import View, PropertyView
 from labthings.server.decorators import doc_response, ThingProperty
 
 from flask import Response
 
 
-@ThingProperty
-class MjpegStream(View):
+class MjpegStream(PropertyView):
     """
     Real-time MJPEG stream from the microscope camera
     """
@@ -38,8 +37,7 @@ class MjpegStream(View):
         )
 
 
-@ThingProperty
-class SnapshotStream(View):
+class SnapshotStream(PropertyView):
     """
     Single JPEG snapshot from the camera stream
     """