A method of executing program instructions may include receiving, in a processor, an instruction that causes the processor to read data from or write data to a portion of memory that is shared by one or more processes, at least one process of which manipulates data in a format that is different than a format of data in the shared portion of memory. The method may further include executing alternate instructions in place of the received instruction. The alternate instructions may effect transformation of data associated with the shared portion of memory from a first data format to a second data format.