T[] empty = reference.length == 0 ? reference : Arrays.copyOf(reference, 0);
    return Arrays.copyOf(empty, length);
  }

  /** Equivalent to Arrays.copyOfRange(source, from, to, arrayOfType.getClass()). */
  /*
   * Arrays are a mess from a nullness perspective, and Class instances for object-array types are
   * even worse. For now, we just suppress and move on with our lives.
   *

   * {@code array}, or {@code -1} if there is no such occurrence.
   *
   * <p>More formally, returns the lowest index {@code i} such that {@code Arrays.copyOfRange(array,
   * i, i + target.length)} contains exactly the same elements as {@code target}.
   *
   * <p>Note that this always returns {@code -1} when {@code target} contains {@code NaN}.
   *

   * {@code array}, or {@code -1} if there is no such occurrence.
   *
   * <p>More formally, returns the lowest index {@code i} such that {@code Arrays.copyOfRange(array,
   * i, i + target.length)} contains exactly the same elements as {@code target}.
   *
   * <p>Note that this always returns {@code -1} when {@code target} contains {@code NaN}.
   *