code: public static List<String> getStrListValue(Map<String, Object> yamlObject, String key,
              boolean allowsEmpty) throws YamlConvertException {
          Object obj = getObjectValue(yamlObject, key, allowsEmpty);
          @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
          List<String> result = (List<String>) obj;
          if (result == null) {
              if (!allowsEmpty) {
                  throw new YamlConvertException(MSG_LIST_MUST_NOT_BE_NULL);
              }
              result = new ArrayList<>(0);
          }
          return result;
      }
docs: for null or not found key, returns empty list