code: public boolean lessThan(Object left, Object right) {
      if ((left == right) || (left == null) || (right == null)) {
        return false;
      }
      else {
        return compare(left, right, "<") < 0;
      }
  
    }
docs: Test if left < right.
  
  @param left
  first value
  @param right
  second value
  @return test result.