docs: public static String fixLeadingBracketSugar( String dotNotaton ) {
  
          if ( dotNotaton == null || dotNotaton.length() == 0 ) {
              return "";
          }
  
          char prev = dotNotaton.charAt( 0 );
          StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
          sb.append( prev );
  
          for ( int index = 1; index < dotNotaton.length(); index++ ) {
              char curr =  dotNotaton.charAt( index );
  
              if ( curr == '[' && prev != '\\') {
                  if ( prev == '@' || prev == '.' ) {
                      // no need to add an extra '.'
                  }
                  else {
                      sb.append( '.' );
                  }
              }
  
              sb.append( curr );
              prev = curr;
          }
  
          return sb.toString();
      }