def first_digits(s, default=<NUM_LIT:0>):
s = re.split(r'<STR_LIT>', str(s).strip().lstrip('<STR_LIT>' + charlist.whitespace))<EOL>if len(s) and len(s[<NUM_LIT:0>]):<EOL><INDENT>return int(s[<NUM_LIT:0>])<EOL><DEDENT>return default<EOL>
Return the fist (left-hand) digits in a string as a single integer, ignoring sign (+/-).
    >>> first_digits('+123.456')
    123