* <ul>
 *   <li>{@code merge} (default): Merges attributes and values</li>
 *   <li>{@code override}: Completely replaces the element</li>
 *   <li>{@code remove}: Removes the element</li>
 * </ul>
 *
 * <p>For complex XML structures, combining can also be done based on:</p>
 * <ul>
 *   <li>ID: Using the {@code combine.id} attribute</li>

 *
 * Hierarchy:
 * <ul>
 * <li>{@link org.apache.maven.cling.invoker.LookupInvoker} is the "basis", the common ground of all Maven Tools</li>
 * <li>extended by {@link org.apache.maven.cling.invoker.mvn.MavenInvoker} is the "mvn Tool"</li>
 * <li>extended by {@link org.apache.maven.cling.invoker.mvnenc.EncryptInvoker} is the "mvnenc Tool"</li>

 *
 * <p>This service allows implementations to:</p>
 * <ul>
 *   <li>Pool identical objects to reduce memory footprint</li>
 *   <li>Intern objects for faster equality comparisons</li>
 *   <li>Apply custom optimization strategies</li>
 *   <li>Transform or modify objects during building</li>
 * </ul>
 *
 * <p>Implementations are discovered via the Java ServiceLoader mechanism and should

 * <h3>String utilities</h3>
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>{@link Ascii}
 *   <li>{@link CaseFormat}
 *   <li>{@link CharMatcher}
 *   <li>{@link Splitter}
 *   <li>{@link Strings}
 * </ul>
 *
 * <h3>Function types</h3>
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>{@link Converter}
 *   <li>{@link Equivalence}
 * </ul>
 *
 * <h3>Other</h3>
 *
 * <ul>
 *   <li>{@link Enums}
 *   <li>{@link MoreObjects}
 *   <li>{@link Preconditions}

         *
         * <p>This method is used to find POM files in various contexts, such as:</p>
         * <ul>
         *   <li>Directly at the specified path</li>
         *   <li>Within a directory at the specified path</li>
         *   <li>In standard Maven project locations relative to the specified path</li>
         * </ul>
         *
         * @param project the path to search for a POM file

 * <li>POM: Repositories can be specified in the {@code pom.xml} file under the {@code <repositories>} and {@code <pluginRepositories>} sections.</li>
 * <li>Settings: the {@code settings.xml} can be used to provide additional repositories in the three level of settings (user, project, installation).</li>
 * </ol>

 *
 * <p>When resolving dependencies, Maven follows this order:</p><ol>
 * <li>Check Local Repository: Maven first checks if the artifact is available in the local repository.</li>
 * <li>Check Remote Repositories: If the artifact is not found locally, Maven queries the configured remote repositories in the order they are listed.</li>

</p>

<ul>

<li>
<code>FP</code>: Frame pointer: arguments and locals.
</li>

<li>
<code>PC</code>: Program counter:
jumps and branches.
</li>

<li>
<code>SB</code>: Static base pointer: global symbols.
</li>

<li>
<code>SP</code>: Stack pointer: the highest address within the local stack frame.
</li>

</ul>

<p>

     * <ul>
     *   <li>File sources resolve against their parent directory</li>
     *   <li>URL sources resolve against their base URL</li>
     *   <li>Other sources may not support resolution and return null</li>
     * </ul>
     * <p>
     * The implementation must handle:
     * <ul>
     *   <li>Both forward and back slashes as path separators</li>
     *   <li>Parent directory references (..)</li>

 * <ul>
 *   <li>PERSISTENT - Data persists across Maven invocations</li>
 *   <li>SESSION_SCOPED - Data retained for the duration of a Maven session</li>
 *   <li>REQUEST_SCOPED - Data retained only for the current build request</li>
 *   <li>DISABLED - No caching performed</li>
 * </ul>
 * <p>
 * Example usage:
 * <pre>
 * RequestCache cache = cacheFactory.createCache();