code: public VersionRange before(final int... parts) {
      checkNotNull(parts);
      checkArgument(parts.length != 0);
  
      StringBuilder buff = new StringBuilder()
          .append("(,");
  
      for (int i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) {
        buff.append(parts[i]);
        if (i + 1 < parts.length) {
          buff.append(".");
        }
      }
  
      buff.append("-")
          .append(EARLIEST_SUFFIX)
          .append(")");
  
      log.trace("Range pattern: {}", buff);
  
      return parseRange(buff.toString());
    }
docs: Builds a range before version parts.