* 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))}.

     * </p>
     * <ul>
     *   <li>If {@link #MODULES} path type is also set, then the dependency can be placed either on the
     *       class-path or on the module-path, but only one of those. The choice is up to the plugin,
     *       possibly using heuristic rules (Maven 3 behavior).</li>
     *   <li>If a {@link #patchModule(String)} is also set and the main JAR file is placed on the module-path,

  /**
   * 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>
   *

 * 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}

   *
   * <ol>
   *   <li>calls {@link ExecutorService#shutdown()}, disabling acceptance of new submitted tasks.
   *   <li>awaits executor service termination for half of the specified timeout.
   *   <li>if the timeout expires, it calls {@link ExecutorService#shutdownNow()}, cancelling
   *       pending tasks and interrupting running tasks.

 *
 * <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()})

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 *       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

   * 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))}.