* @param key The key of the setting.
     * @param defaultValue The default value if the setting is not found.
     * @return The setting value as a String.
     */
    public String getAsString(final String key, final String defaultValue) {
        final Object obj = get(key);

        final String value;
        if (obj == null) {
            value = defaultValue;
        } else {
            value = obj.toString();

     * @param key The key of the parameter.
     * @param defaultValue The default value if the parameter is not found.
     * @param clazz The class type to convert the parameter to.
     * @return The parameter value, or the default value if not found.
     */
    protected <T> T getInitParameter(final String key, final T defaultValue, final Class<T> clazz) {
        if (initParamMap != null) {
            try {