code: def parse_requirements_alt(fname='requirements.txt'):
      
      import requirements
      from os.path import dirname, join, exists
      require_fpath = join(dirname(__file__), fname)
      if exists(require_fpath):
          # Dont use until this handles platform specific dependencies
          with open(require_fpath, 'r') as file:
              requires = list(requirements.parse(file))
          packages = [r.name for r in requires]
          return packages
      return []
docs: pip install requirements-parser
      fname='requirements.txt'