A short pointer mode application is loaded in an address space configured for use by a plurality of types of applications including the short pointer mode application and a long pointer mode application. The address space has a first portion addressable by short pointers of a defined size and a second portion addressable by long pointers of another defined size. The other defined size is different from the defined size. Based on executing the short pointer mode application, one or more short pointers of the short pointer mode application are converted to one or more long pointers; and the one or more long pointers are used to access memory within the first portion of the address space addressable by short pointers.