/**
  * Creates a singleton instance of the utility class.
  *
  * @return \AppserverIo\Configuration\ConfigurationUtils The singleton instance
  */
 public static function singleton()
 {
     // query whether we've already loaded an instance or not
     if (ConfigurationUtils::$instance == null) {
         ConfigurationUtils::$instance = new ConfigurationUtils();
     }
     // return the singleton instance
     return ConfigurationUtils::$instance;
 }