*       typically because the type forbids nullable type arguments: For example, {@code
 *       ImmutableList.get} returns {@code E}, but that value is never {@code null}. (Accordingly,
 *       {@code ImmutableList} is declared to forbid {@code ImmutableList<@Nullable String>}.)
 *   <li>methods whose return type is a type variable but which can return {@code null} regardless
 *       of the type argument supplied by the user of the class: For example, {@code

 *       typically because the type forbids nullable type arguments: For example, {@code
 *       ImmutableList.get} returns {@code E}, but that value is never {@code null}. (Accordingly,
 *       {@code ImmutableList} is declared to forbid {@code ImmutableList<@Nullable String>}.)
 *   <li>methods whose return type is a type variable but which can return {@code null} regardless
 *       of the type argument supplied by the user of the class: For example, {@code

 *       typically because the type forbids nullable type arguments: For example, {@code
 *       ImmutableList.get} returns {@code E}, but that value is never {@code null}. (Accordingly,
 *       {@code ImmutableList} is declared to forbid {@code ImmutableList<@Nullable String>}.)
 *   <li>methods whose return type is a type variable but which can return {@code null} regardless
 *       of the type argument supplied by the user of the class: For example, {@code

 *       typically because the type forbids nullable type arguments: For example, {@code
 *       ImmutableList.get} returns {@code E}, but that value is never {@code null}. (Accordingly,
 *       {@code ImmutableList} is declared to forbid {@code ImmutableList<@Nullable String>}.)
 *   <li>methods whose return type is a type variable but which can return {@code null} regardless
 *       of the type argument supplied by the user of the class: For example, {@code

 *       typically because the type forbids nullable type arguments: For example, {@code
 *       ImmutableList.get} returns {@code E}, but that value is never {@code null}. (Accordingly,
 *       {@code ImmutableList} is declared to forbid {@code ImmutableList<@Nullable String>}.)
 *   <li>methods whose return type is a type variable but which can return {@code null} regardless
 *       of the type argument supplied by the user of the class: For example, {@code

    private static void checkEdge(MetadataGraphEdge e) throws MetadataResolutionException {
        if (e == null) {
            throw new MetadataResolutionException("badly formed edge");
        }
    }
    // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    public List<MetadataGraphEdge> getEdgesBetween(MetadataGraphVertex vFrom, MetadataGraphVertex vTo) {

 * strategies.
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>SafeAtomicHelper: uses Atomic FieldsUpdaters to implement synchronization
 *   <li>SynchronizedHelper: uses {@code synchronized} blocks for synchronization
 * </ul>
 *
 * To force selection of our fallback strategies we load {@link AggregateFutureState} (and all of
 * {@code com.google.common.util.concurrent}) in degenerate class loaders which make certain

 *       typically because the type forbids nullable type arguments: For example, {@code
 *       ImmutableList.get} returns {@code E}, but that value is never {@code null}. (Accordingly,
 *       {@code ImmutableList} is declared to forbid {@code ImmutableList<@Nullable String>}.)
 *   <li>methods whose return type is a type variable but which can return {@code null} regardless
 *       of the type argument supplied by the user of the class: For example, {@code

 *       typically because the type forbids nullable type arguments: For example, {@code
 *       ImmutableList.get} returns {@code E}, but that value is never {@code null}. (Accordingly,
 *       {@code ImmutableList} is declared to forbid {@code ImmutableList<@Nullable String>}.)
 *   <li>methods whose return type is a type variable but which can return {@code null} regardless
 *       of the type argument supplied by the user of the class: For example, {@code

 *       typically because the type forbids nullable type arguments: For example, {@code
 *       ImmutableList.get} returns {@code E}, but that value is never {@code null}. (Accordingly,
 *       {@code ImmutableList} is declared to forbid {@code ImmutableList<@Nullable String>}.)
 *   <li>methods whose return type is a type variable but which can return {@code null} regardless
 *       of the type argument supplied by the user of the class: For example, {@code