code: private String getConfigAttribute(Configuration config, ChainedItem<Configuration> parentConfiguration,
                                        String attributeName, String defaultValue) {
          String ret;
          try {
              ret = config.getAttribute(attributeName);
          } catch (CheckstyleException e) {
              // Try to find the attribute in a parent, if there are any
              if (parentConfiguration != null) {
                  ret =
                          getConfigAttribute(parentConfiguration.value, parentConfiguration.parent, attributeName,
                                  defaultValue);
              } else {
                  ret = defaultValue;
              }
          }
          return ret;
      }
docs: Get the value of the specified attribute from the Checkstyle configuration.
  If parentConfigurations is non-null and non-empty, the parent
  configurations are searched if the attribute cannot be found in the
  current configuration. If the attribute is still not found, the
  specified default value will be returned.
  
  @param config              The current Checkstyle configuration
  @param parentConfiguration The configuration of the parent of the current configuration
  @param attributeName       The name of the attribute
  @param defaultValue        The default value to use if the attribute cannot be found in any configuration
  @return The value of the specified attribute