code: def _get_alternates(self):
          
          alternates_path = osp.join(self.git_dir, 'objects', 'info', 'alternates')
  
          if osp.exists(alternates_path):
              with open(alternates_path, 'rb') as f:
                  alts = f.read().decode(defenc)
              return alts.strip().splitlines()
          else:
              return []
docs: The list of alternates for this repo from which objects can be retrieved
  
          :return: list of strings being pathnames of alternates