def METHOD_NAME(to_assemble_input):
    to_assemble_list = []
    if isinstance(to_assemble_input, list):
        to_assemble_list = to_assemble_input
    else:
        with open(to_assemble_input, "rt") as input_file:
            for line in input_file.readlines():
                # match comment
                mo = re.match(r"^#", line)
                if mo:
                    print("Skip commented line: {}".format(line))
                    continue
                # match whitespace
                mo = re.match(r"[\s]+", line)
                if mo:
                    continue
                mo = re.match(r"([\S]+)", line)
                if not mo:
                    print("Invalid file: {}".format(line))
                    print_usage()
                    return 1
                to_assemble_list.append(line.strip())
    return to_assemble_list