Type merging technique to reduce class loading during java verfication

A computer program product for merging types referenced in a method of an object-oriented program, the computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-usable program code embodied therein, the computer-usable program code comprising:

• computer-usable program code to analyze a method within an object-oriented program to identify merge candidates, wherein merge candidates include classes that are used as input parameters to operations within the method;
• computer-usable program code to record the merge candidates in a merge candidate list;
• computer-usable program code to identify at least two code paths in the method that merge into a single code path, each code path operating on a different type;
• and
• computer-usable program code to merge the types to a nearest common superclass listed in the merge candidate list.

An apparatus for merging types referenced in a method of an object-oriented program, the apparatus comprising:

• an analysis module to analyze a method within an object-oriented program to identify merge candidates, wherein merge candidates include classes that are used as input parameters to operations within the method;
• a recording module to record the merge candidates in a merge candidate list;
• an identification module to identify at least two code paths in the method that merge into a single code path, each code path operating on a different type;
• and
• a merging module to merge the types to a nearest common superclass listed in the merge candidate list.