A memory dump of a memory of a computer system having a first set of bytes and a second set of bytes. The first set of bytes includes application data, and the second set of bytes includes a description of a structure of the application data. The memory dump is read by locating the description of a structure of application data; reading the description; defining a runtime data structure in accordance with the description; locating the application data in the memory dump; and reading the application data into the runtime data structure.