arcpy.management.<gp_tool> vs. arcpy.<gp_tool>_management?

[davedoesgis]

When I open the help in Pro from a GP tool, the docs (example) give me usage like this: 

arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management( ... )

When I go to the GP history and copy the Python snippet (now called "Copy Python Command"), it gives me slightly different syntax: 

arcpy.management.SelectLayerByAttribute( ... )

The second looks much more like a Pythonic package structure to me. Is there any functional difference or any particular reason to use one over the over? 

[DanPatterson]

No functional difference... same script

arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management??
Source:   
@gptooldoc('SelectLayerByAttribute_management', None)
.... huge snip ....
File:      c:\arc_pro\resources\arcpy\arcpy\management.py
Type:      function

arcpy.management.SelectLayerByAttribute??
Source:   
@gptooldoc('SelectLayerByAttribute_management', None)
.... huge snip ....
File:      c:\arc_pro\resources\arcpy\arcpy\management.py
Type:      function‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

[JoshuaBixby]

If you are not using Jupyter, you can also see they are the same by using the code dunder attribute:

>>> arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management.__code__
<code object SelectLayerByAttribute at 0x0000023D1BF5F1E0, file "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\management.py", line 8699>
>>>
>>> arcpy.management.SelectLayerByAttribute.__code__
<code object SelectLayerByAttribute at 0x0000023D1BF5F1E0, file "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\management.py", line 8699>
>>> ‍‍‍‍‍‍

[DanPatterson]

It was actually Spyder... anything that can use ipython line magics will work (others include jupyterlab, notebook, jupyter console or Pro's notebooks)

[davedoesgis]

So I guess that begs the question, which is more Pythonic?

[JoshuaBixby · Accepted solution]

The historical/legacy syntax was arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management, and the newer/current syntax is arcpy.management.SelectLayerByAttribute.  The underlying package structure of ArcPy hasn't really changed, Esri is just moving away from the function alias model they originally adopted.  Personally, I consider the newer syntax more Pythonic.

[RDHarles]

After 15 years they're going to switch the order?  I remember back in the day when you didn't even need the "toolbox" (e.g."_management") ~AND~  you could use any case you wanted (e.g. SeLeCtLaYeRbYaTTrIBuTe).

As a old timer, I don't like it...and get off my lawn! 

[davedoesgis]

Too bad there aren't laugh emoji reactions in GeoNet. Thanks for the chuckle, RD.

[JoshuaBixby]

This is Jive's "laugh" emoji: