1. A method of pickling a data object into an image, comprising the steps of: storing in a computer memory, type metadata that describes an abstract data type of said data object; storing in said computer memory, format metadata that describes a data format used by said data object; copying a plurality of bytes of said data object into said image, according to information contained in said type metadata; and transforming an address pointer of said data object into a memory offset value in said image using said type metadata and said format metadata, and copying into said image a second plurality of bytes to which said pointer points.