import json


def read_config_file(config_file):
    """
    Read a json configuration file

    :param config_file: path to a json file containing the algorithm parameters
    :type config_file: string
    :return: the configuration
    :rtype: dict
    """
    with open(config_file, "r") as file:
        user_configuration = json.load(file)
    return user_configuration