*
   * @param string a string reference to check
   * @return {@code true} if the string is null or is the empty string
   */
  public static boolean isNullOrEmpty(@Nullable String string) {
    return Platform.stringIsNullOrEmpty(string);
  }

  /**
   * Returns a string, of length at least {@code minLength}, consisting of {@code string} prepended
   * with as many copies of {@code padChar} as are necessary to reach that length. For example,