XML parser for project assets

What this MR does / why we need it:

First step in Less-make effort for project assets. It can be standalone as it will not be called until util.mk uses it.

Steps to complete before submitting MR:

• I have read Contribution guidelines

Release Notes

N/A

Changelog

• enh(runtime): parse helper function for XML project assets

Which issue(s) this MR closes

Closes #1233 (closed)