docs: def initialize(log_file, project_dir=None, debug=False):
      '''
      Initializes an AbTools pipeline.
  
      Initialization includes printing the AbTools splash, setting up logging,
      creating the project directory, and logging both the project directory
      and the log location.
  
      Args:
  
          log_file (str): Path to the log file. Required.
  
          project_dir (str): Path to the project directory. If not provided,
              the project directory won't be created and the location won't be logged.
  
          debug (bool): If ``True``, the logging level will be set to ``logging.DEBUG``.
              Default is ``FALSE``, which logs at ``logging.INFO``.
  
      Returns:
  
          logger
      '''
      print_splash()
      log.setup_logging(log_file, print_log_location=False, debug=debug)
      logger = log.get_logger('pipeline')
      if project_dir is not None:
          make_dir(os.path.normpath(project_dir))
          logger.info('PROJECT DIRECTORY: {}'.format(project_dir))
          logger.info('')
      logger.info('LOG LOCATION: {}'.format(log_file))
      print('')
      return logger