code: def find_version(*paths):
      '''reads a file and returns the defined __version__ value'''
      version_match = re.search(r"^__version__ ?= ?['\"]([^'\"]*)['\"]",
                                read(*paths), re.M)
      if version_match:
          return version_match.group(1)
      raise RuntimeError("Unable to find version string."f find_version(*paths):
      '''reads a file and returns the defined __version__ value'''
      version_match = re.search(r"^__version__ ?= ?['\"]([^'\"]*)['\"]",
                                read(*paths), re.M)
      if version_match:
          return version_match.group(1)
      raise RuntimeError("Unable to find version string.")
docs: reads a file and returns the defined __version__ value