def parse_description():
    """
    Parse the description in the README file

    CommandLine:
        python -c "import setup; print(setup.parse_description())"
    """
    from os.path import dirname, join, exists
    readme_fpath = join(dirname(__file__), 'README.md')
    # print('readme_fpath = %r' % (readme_fpath,))
    # This breaks on pip install, so check that it exists.
    if exists(readme_fpath):
        # try:
        #     # convert markdown to rst for pypi
        #     import pypandoc
        #     return pypandoc.convert(readme_fpath, 'rst')
        # except Exception as ex:
            # strip out markdown to make a clean readme for pypi
            textlines = []
            with open(readme_fpath, 'r') as f:
                capture = False
                for line in f.readlines():
                    if '# Purpose' in line:
                        capture = True
                    elif line.startswith('##'):
                        break
                    elif capture:
                        textlines += [line]
            text = ''.join(textlines).strip()
            text = text.replace('\n\n', '_NLHACK_')
            text = text.replace('\n', ' ')
            text = text.replace('_NLHACK_', '\n\n')
            return text
    return ''
Parse the description in the README file

    CommandLine:
        python -c "import setup; print(setup.parse_description())"