1 files changed, 15 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/Internal.java b/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/Internal.java
index c234559c..36bdece3 100644
--- a/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/Internal.java
+++ b/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/Internal.java
@@ -62,6 +62,16 @@ public final class Internal {
   /**
    * Throws an appropriate {@link NullPointerException} if the given objects is {@code null}.
    */
+  static <T> T checkNotNull(T obj) {
+    if (obj == null) {
+      throw new NullPointerException();
+    }
+    return obj;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Throws an appropriate {@link NullPointerException} if the given objects is {@code null}.
+   */
   static <T> T checkNotNull(T obj, String message) {
     if (obj == null) {
       throw new NullPointerException(message);
@@ -420,6 +430,11 @@ public final class Internal {
       CodedInputStream.newInstance(EMPTY_BYTE_ARRAY);
 
 
+  /** Helper method to merge two MessageLite instances. */
+  static Object mergeMessage(Object destination, Object source) {
+    return ((MessageLite) destination).toBuilder().mergeFrom((MessageLite) source).buildPartial();
+  }
+
   /**
    * Provides an immutable view of {@code List<T>} around a {@code List<F>}.
    *