If a new option is added to a ParamOption list, then it should still be comparable with an older version of the option list with less options.

I recommend the following change in ParamOption:

public int compareTo(ParamModel model) {
if (model instanceof ParamOption) {
List modelOptions = ((ParamOption) model).getOptions();
return (modelOptions.size()>=options.size())?0:1;
} else {
return 1;
}
}

Moved to feature requests pending consensus on a way of ensuring backward compatibility when option lists are tweaked.

The current compareTo() only checks that the two lists are the same size. I prefer a weaker check in the event that the text has changed but the options have not or the options have been expanded, but a strict field comparison would be good defensive programming.

What if the options are in a different order or have been changed?