code: @Override
      public int compareTo(MachineTime<U> other) {
  
          if (this.scale == other.scale) {
              if (this.seconds < other.seconds) {
                  return -1;
              } else if (this.seconds > other.seconds) {
                  return 1;
              } else {
                  return (this.nanos - other.nanos);
              }
          } else {
              throw new ClassCastException("Different time scales.");
          }
  
      }
docs: /*[deutsch]
  <p>Methode des {@code Comparable}-Interface. </p>
  
  @param   other   another machine time to be compared with
  @return  negative, zero or positive integer if this instance is shorter, equal or longer than other one
  @throws  ClassCastException if this and the other machine time have different time scales
  @see     #isShorterThan(MachineTime)
  @see     #isLongerThan(MachineTime)
  @since   3.20/4.16