1. A method, comprising: loading at least one class indicated by a classloader at runtime of a virtual machine (VM) environment on a device, wherein said loading comprises, for at least one class file container indicated by the classloader: locating a persistent module corresponding to the class file container, wherein the persistent module contains one or more data structures representing classes defined by one or more class files in the respective class file container; and mapping or copying content of the persistent module to memory within the VM environment to preload the one or more classes from the persistent module into the VM environment, wherein the one or more preloaded classes are not fully linked or resolved in the VM environment.