// Utilities.java -- random utility functions
//


public abstract class Utilities extends Object {

  // helper functions -- why aren't these java built-ins?
  static public boolean isInstance (Object o, Class c) {
    return isSubclass (o.getClass(), c);
    }

  static public boolean isInstance (Object o, String s) {
    try
      return isInstance (o, Class.forName(s));
    catch (Exception e)
      return false;
    }

  static public boolean isSubclass (Class c1, Class c2) {
    if (c1.equals(c2))
      return true;
    else if (c1.getName().equals("Object"))
      return false;
    else
      return (isSubclass(c1.getSuperclass(), c2));
    }

  }