One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates loading classes into non-volatile memory. During the loading process, the system first loads class definitions into volatile memory, wherein the class definitions contain metadata for classes currently being loaded into non-volatile memory, as well as metadata for classes that are already loaded into non-volatile memory. Next, after the class definitions are loaded into volatile memory, the system loads method code for the classes into non-volatile memory. During this process, the system uses the class definitions to resolve linkages in the method code so that the method code is ready for execution in non-volatile memory.