code: public boolean initialize(byte[] value) throws Exception
      {
          try
          {
              client.create().creatingParentContainersIfNeeded().forPath(path, value);
          }
          catch ( KeeperException.NodeExistsException ignore )
          {
              // ignore
              return false;
          }
          return true;
      }
docs: Atomic values are initially set to the equivalent of <code>NULL</code> in a database.
  Use this method to initialize the value. The value will be set if and only iff the node does not exist.
  
  @param value the initial value to set
  @return true if the value was set, false if the node already existed
  @throws Exception ZooKeeper errors