* Tests whether a line is a comment, i.e. whether it starts with a comment
     * character.
     *
     * @param line the line
     * @return a flag if this is a comment line
     */
    static boolean isCommentLine(String line) {
        String s = line.trim();
        // blank lines are also treated as comment lines
        return s.isEmpty() || COMMENT_CHARS.indexOf(s.charAt(0)) >= 0;
    }

    /**