def read(path, root_path=None):
    """Read the specific file into a string in its entirety."""
    try:
        root_path = root_path or get_root_path()
        real_path = os.path.realpath(os.path.join(root_path, path))
        with open(real_path) as fp:
            return fp.read().strip()
    except IOError:
        return ""
Read the specific file into a string in its entirety.