docs: private int countCharsStart(final char ch, final boolean allowSpaces)
      {
          int count = 0;
          for (int i = 0; i < this.value.length(); i++)
          {
              final char c = this.value.charAt(i);
              if (c == ' ' && allowSpaces)
              {
                  continue;
              }
              if (c == ch)
              {
                  count++;
              }
              else
              {
                  break;
              }
          }
          return count;
      }