[Python-Dev] PEP 8 and function names

[Skip Montanaro]

> But one thing that often confuses people : function naming. The standard
> library is kind of inconsistent. Some functions are separated by underscores
> and others aren't.

I think there are a number of reasons for this:

* Despite PEP 8's age, significant chunks of the standard library predate it
* Modules which are thin wrappers around various C libraries tend to
mimic those libraries' names
* Modules which were heavily influenced by similar libraries from
other languages often carry over spelling
* PEP 8 hasn't always been a checklist item for inclusion (not sure it
even is today)
* Sometimes Cerberus was sleeping, and they snuck past him

In any case, once a module makes it into the standard library, the
cost of changing spelling outweighs the benefits of slavish adherence
to PEP 8.

Skip