static boolean isKeyInNewFormat(List<String> configurationKey) {
    String propertiesType = configurationKey.get(1);
    return configurationKey.size() == 3 && PROPERTIES_PROPERTY_ID.equals(propertiesType)
      || configurationKey.size() == 4 && PROPERTIES_ATTRIBUTES_PROPERTY_ID.equals(propertiesType);
  }
Creates a configuration instance from user provided properties.
Supports both forms of configuration syntax.
todo: document both forms here
ambari-server/src/main/java/org/apache/ambari/server/topology/ConfigurationFactory.java