1. A method comprising: fetching a first very long instruction word, the first very long instruction word including a type identifier and multiple portions, the type identifier identifying whether each of the multiple portions contains an instruction or a pointer to an instruction; identifying a first portion of the multiple portions of the first very long instruction word that includes a first pointer to a first instruction; retrieving, from a first location of a first instruction window that has been pre-loaded with the first instruction, the first instruction pointed to by the first pointer; and inputting the retrieved first instruction into a first functional unit for execution.