/**
   * Determines whether two possibly-null objects are equal. Returns:
   *
   * <ul>
   *   <li>{@code true} if {@code a} and {@code b} are both null.
   *   <li>{@code true} if {@code a} and {@code b} are both non-null and they are equal according to
   *       {@link Object#equals(Object)}.
   *   <li>{@code false} in all other situations.
   * </ul>
   *

   * class documentation above). This method is <i>generally expected</i>, but not absolutely
   * required, to have the following properties:
   *
   * <ul>
   *   <li>Its execution does not cause any observable side effects.
   *   <li>The computation is <i>consistent with equals</i>; that is, {@link Objects#equal
   *       Objects.equal}{@code (a, b)} implies that {@code predicate.apply(a) ==
   *       predicate.apply(b))}.

   * all references {@code x}, {@code y}, and {@code z} (any of which may be null):
   *
   * <ul>
   *   <li>{@code equivalent(x, x)} is true (<i>reflexive</i> property)
   *   <li>{@code equivalent(x, y)} and {@code equivalent(y, x)} each return the same result
   *       (<i>symmetric</i> property)
   *   <li>If {@code equivalent(x, y)} and {@code equivalent(y, z)} are both true, then {@code

   * all references {@code x}, {@code y}, and {@code z} (any of which may be null):
   *
   * <ul>
   *   <li>{@code equivalent(x, x)} is true (<i>reflexive</i> property)
   *   <li>{@code equivalent(x, y)} and {@code equivalent(y, x)} each return the same result
   *       (<i>symmetric</i> property)
   *   <li>If {@code equivalent(x, y)} and {@code equivalent(y, z)} are both true, then {@code

 * Ordering}, including:
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>{@link #reverse}
 *   <li>{@link #compound(Comparator)}
 *   <li>{@link #onResultOf(Function)}
 *   <li>{@link #nullsFirst} / {@link #nullsLast}
 * </ul>
 *
 * <h4>Using</h4>
 *
 * <p>Finally, use the resulting {@code Ordering} anywhere a {@link Comparator} is required, or use
 * any of its special operations, such as:
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>{@link #immutableSortedCopy}

 *
 * <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()})

 *
 * <p>This pattern ensures the following:
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>Each {@code Closeable} resource that is successfully registered will be closed later.
 *   <li>If a {@code Throwable} is thrown in the try block, no exceptions that occur when attempting
 *       to close resources will be thrown from the finally block. The throwable from the try block
 *       will be thrown.

    // Field validation
    // ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    /**
     * Asserts:
     * <p/>
     * <ul>
     * <li><code>string.length == null</code>
     * <li><code>string.length == 0</code>
     * </ul>
     */
    private static boolean validateStringEmpty(
            List<BuilderProblem> problems, String fieldName, String string, String message) {

 *   <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}).

 *       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