Where is the line between Python and GIS?

Question

Related to When are field calculator scripting questions on topic? and various comments on that Meta question (and many Main questions since) I think it is clear that we do not have consensus on where the line should be drawn between pure Python (better researched/asked at Stack Overflow) and Python functionality that is core to modern GIS (on-topic for here).

Where would you draw that line?

Answer 1

Another excellent example of why defining the line for 'pure' Python questions is going to be difficult: Using variable in SelectByAttribute_management.

At the lowest level possible, it is purely a Python syntax issue.

However, the error given would indicate an error outside of Python, within the ArcGIS API:

Runtime error Traceback (most recent call last): File "", line 1, in File "c:\program files (x86)\arcgis\desktop10.1\arcpy\arcpy\management.py", line 6435, in SelectLayerByAttribute raise e ExecuteError: ERROR 000358: Invalid expression Failed to execute (SelectLayerByAttribute).

If you look up this error message you'll find:

The SQL expression is invalid.

It takes knowledge of both ArcGIS and Python to understand what the problem is and what the solution should be.

Now, the question is, should I answer this? It's actually fairly simple, and I've already spent more time creating this answer than it would have taken to do that.
I could also vote to close it as off-topic. But, given the fact that I've already taken the time to read and understand the question, and I know a solution, am I really improving this community by voting to close this question?

At the very least, I believe trying to define what is 'pure' Python is going to be a moving target, and something this community will struggle with on an on-going basis.

Answer 2

https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/177203/how-to-define-empty-raster-object-with-arcpy is a question that I think falls squarely on the Python side of the line despite mentioning ArcPy in the title.

The relevant code presented was:

for x in range(1,13):
    days_in_month = monthrange(2013,x)[1]
    for y in range(days_in_month):
       raster_sum+=rasters[count]

and the error was:

Runtime error 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 4, in <module>
NameError: name 'raster_sum' is not defined

There is no evidence for the ArcPy (or any other GIS) site package having been imported prior to, or being used by, what we are shown.

To get the same error thrown by raster_sum+=rasters[count] I can use this piece of pure Python code:

count = 0
rasters = [1,2,3]
raster_sum+=rasters[count]

Answer 3

I'll provide an answer based on an example question that has since been deleted by the Community user: https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/167074/using-a-text-file-to-create-shapefile-with-attributes.

It was:

I'm using this with Python and Arcpy

Before I begin to code, I was wondering if it was possible to take a .txt file, and extract the first line as the field values, and extract the next lines of coordinates as extents.

An exmaple of the .txt file is like this:

1867-Jan-01 Field value  Field Value  Field Value Field Value  Field Value
  52N  62W
  42N  52W
  32N  42W
  22N  32W
  12N  22W
  11N  12W
  10N  13W

I would have a shapefile already created and all I would need to do is create the polygon files using the coordinates and populate the attribute table with values above it.

Is this a possibility using Python and Arcpy, and what direction should I take it?

This question from Main contains two questions. The second question (creating geometries using ArcPy) is clearly on-topic (but probably a duplicate) while the first question is about how to read lines from a text file using Python.

I voted to put the question on hold because the asker had not included a code snippet to show what they had tried and where they were stuck. However, if they had included a code snippet and that was about how to read lines from a text file using Python, rather than the geometry part, then I would still have voted to put it on hold as being better researched/asked at Stack Overflow.

If the question ceases to be about how to read lines from a text file using Python and becomes only about creating geometries using ArcPy then I will consider it to be highly on-topic for GIS SE and be ready to provide an answer or cite a duplicate.