* with as many copies of {@code padChar} as are necessary to reach that length. For example,
   *
   * <ul>
   *   <li>{@code padStart("7", 3, '0')} returns {@code "007"}
   *   <li>{@code padStart("2010", 3, '0')} returns {@code "2010"}
   * </ul>
   *
   * <p>See {@link java.util.Formatter} for a richer set of formatting capabilities.
   *

 * actions taken by the java garbage collection system:
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>invoking the {@code finalize} methods of unreachable objects
 *   <li>clearing weak references to unreachable referents
 *   <li>enqueuing weak references to unreachable referents in their reference queue
 * </ul>
 *

 *   <li>Convert multiple instances "forward" using {@code converter.convertAll(as)}.
 *   <li>Convert in the "backward" direction using {@code converter.reverse().convert(b)} or {@code
 *       converter.reverse().convertAll(bs)}.
 *   <li>Use {@code converter} or {@code converter.reverse()} anywhere a {@link
 *       java.util.function.Function} is accepted (for example {@link java.util.stream.Stream#map
 *       Stream.map}).

 * webservers, RPC servers and timers.
 *
 * <p>The normal lifecycle of a service is:
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>{@linkplain State#NEW NEW} -&gt;
 *   <li>{@linkplain State#STARTING STARTING} -&gt;
 *   <li>{@linkplain State#RUNNING RUNNING} -&gt;
 *   <li>{@linkplain State#STOPPING STOPPING} -&gt;
 *   <li>{@linkplain State#TERMINATED TERMINATED}
 * </ul>
 *

   *
   * <ol>
   *   <li>The state of the RateLimiter (storedPermits) is a vertical line in this figure.
   *   <li>When the RateLimiter is not used, this goes right (up to maxPermits)
   *   <li>When the RateLimiter is used, this goes left (down to zero), since if we have
   *       storedPermits, we serve from those first

 *
 * <p>Some uses of this class include
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>As a method return type, as an alternative to returning {@code null} to indicate that no
 *       value was available
 *   <li>To distinguish between "unknown" (for example, not present in a map) and "known to have no
 *       value" (present in the map, with value {@code Optional.absent()})

 *       defined this way, but enough to live with.
 *   <li>If you override {@link #setUp} or {@link #tearDown}, make sure to invoke {@code
 *       super.setUp} and {@code super.tearDown} within them. These methods are used to clear and
 *       check for thread assertion failures.
 *   <li>All delays and timeouts must use one of the constants {@code SHORT_DELAY_MS}, {@code

   *
   * <p>returns a list containing six lists in the following order:
   *
   * <ul>
   *   <li>{@code ImmutableList.of(1, "A")}
   *   <li>{@code ImmutableList.of(1, "B")}
   *   <li>{@code ImmutableList.of(1, "C")}
   *   <li>{@code ImmutableList.of(2, "A")}
   *   <li>{@code ImmutableList.of(2, "B")}
   *   <li>{@code ImmutableList.of(2, "C")}
   * </ul>
   *

 * href="https://github.com/google/guava/wiki/GraphsExplained#definitions">definitions of
 * terms</a>):
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>directed graphs
 *   <li>undirected graphs
 *   <li>graphs that do/don't allow self-loops
 *   <li>graphs whose nodes/edges are insertion-ordered, sorted, or unordered
 *   <li>graphs whose edges have associated values
 * </ul>
 *

   * with as many copies of {@code padChar} as are necessary to reach that length. For example,
   *
   * <ul>
   *   <li>{@code padStart("7", 3, '0')} returns {@code "007"}
   *   <li>{@code padStart("2010", 3, '0')} returns {@code "2010"}
   * </ul>
   *
   * <p>See {@link java.util.Formatter} for a richer set of formatting capabilities.
   *