def parse_lines_in_file(path):
    """
    Parses text file path line by line and returns a list of names found in it.
    The special character '#' can be used as a comment character and allows users to write line comments.
    Comments does not affect what this function returns.
    """
    signals = []
    with open(path) as fp:
        for line in fp:
            # removes all text comments starting with # character
            parts = line.partition('#')
            line = parts[0]

            # removes starting and ending whitespace
            line = line.strip()
            if len(line) > 0:
                signals.append(line)
    return signals