new_contents: '''
  Retrieve the version number of the pipeline from the package
  configuration.
  '''
  
  # This solution was suggested on Stack Overflow:
  # http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2058802/how-can-i-get-the-version-defined-in-setup-py-setuptools-in-my-package
  
  import pkg_resources  # part of setuptools
  
  version = pkg_resources.require("thepipeline")[0].version
  
subject: add version details