code: def _read_from_paths():
      
      home = os.environ.get("HOME", "")
      home_path = os.path.join(home, _SETTINGS_PATH)
      etc_path = os.path.join("/etc", _SETTINGS_PATH)
      env_path = os.environ.get("SETTINGS_PATH", "")
  
      read_path = None
      if env_path and os.path.exists(env_path):
          read_path = env_path
      elif home and os.path.exists(home_path):
          read_path = home_path
      elif os.path.exists(etc_path):
          read_path = etc_path
  
      if not read_path:
          return "{}"
  
      with open(read_path) as f:
          return f.read()
docs: Try to read data from configuration paths ($HOME/_SETTINGS_PATH,
      /etc/_SETTINGS_PATH).