1. A method, comprising: generating a vector in a single target register using dot product instructions, without using any permute instructions, and without using any merge instructions, comprising: receiving a plurality of dot product instructions, each specifying: at least one source register comprising vector operands for performing a corresponding dot product operation; the single target register; and a write mask identifying one or more locations of the single target register for writing a scalar result of the corresponding dot product operation as at least one element of a vector to be stored in the single target register; and in response to receiving each dot product instruction and by operation of one or more computer processors, performing the corresponding dot product operation for the respective dot product instruction and storing the scalar result of the corresponding dot product operation to the one or more locations of the single target register identified by the write mask of the respective dot product instruction.