def METHOD_NAME(docs_dir):
    release_date_file = os.path.join(docs_dir,
                                     'RELEASE_DATE')
    # get current date in %Y%m%d
    today_date = datetime.now().strftime('%Y%m%d')
    print(f"Updating {release_date_file} with {today_date}")
    # write today's date to release date file
    with open(release_date_file, 'w') as file_handle:
        file_handle.write(today_date)