if ( a.atMost(b) ) {
            return a;
        }
        return b;
    }


    /**
     * 
     * @param a
     * @param b
     * @return larger of the two versions
     */
    public static DialectVersion max ( DialectVersion a, DialectVersion b ) {
        if ( a.atLeast(b) ) {
            return a;
        }
        return b;
    }