def METHOD_NAME(path):
    global requiredApps
    requiredApps = []
    try:
        fp = open(path, 'r')
    except IOError as e:
        print("ERROR - ", thisScriptName, file=sys.stderr)
        print("  Cannot open app list file:", path, file=sys.stderr)
        return -1
    lines = fp.readlines()
    fp.close()
    for line in lines:
        line = line.strip()
        if (len(line) < 1):
            continue
        if (line[0] == '#'):
            continue
        requiredApps.append(line)
    if (options.debug == True):
        print("Required apps:", file=sys.stderr)
        for name in requiredApps:
            print("    ", name, file=sys.stderr)
    return 0