def version_to_dec(a_version_string):
components = a_version_string.split('<STR_LIT:.>')<EOL>num = <NUM_LIT:0><EOL>for a_component in enumerate(components):<EOL><INDENT>num += (<NUM_LIT:10> ** ((len(components) - <NUM_LIT:1>) - a_component[<NUM_LIT:0>])) * int(a_component[<NUM_LIT:1>])<EOL><DEDENT>return num<EOL>
Converts a version string to a number to allow for quick checks on the versions of specific components.

:param a_version_string: The version string under test (e.g. '3.4.0')
:type a_version_string: str
:return: An integer representation of the string version, e.g. '3.4.0' --> 340