/**
   * Similar to the above, but keeps a boolean flag rather than checking for the string accumulated
   * so far being empty. As a result, it does not have the above-mentioned bug.
   */
  @Benchmark
  int booleanIfFirst(int reps) {
    int dummy = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < reps; i++) {
      StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
      boolean append = false;
      for (String comp : components) {
        if (append) {