throws Throwable
  public static int strncmp(String a, String b, int length)    throws Throwable  {    if (length < a.length())      a = a.substring(0, length);    if (length < b.length())      b = b.substring(0, length);    int cmp = a.compareTo(b);    if (cmp == 0)      return 0;    else if (cmp < 0)      return -1;    else      return 1;  }