docs: def get_version_from_file(path):
      """Find the VERSION_FILE and return its contents.
  
      Returns
      -------
      version : string or None
  
      """
      filename = os.path.join(path, VERSION_FILE)
      if not os.path.isfile(filename):
          # Look in the parent directory of path instead.
          filename = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(path), VERSION_FILE)
          if not os.path.isfile(filename):
              filename = ''
  
      if filename:
          with open(filename) as fh:
              version = fh.readline().strip()
              if version:
                  return version