The Vivado tools also let you work with the design in memory, without the need for a project file and local directory. Working without a project file in the compilation style flow is called Non-Project Mode. Source files and design constraints are read into memory from their current locations. The in-memory design is stepped through the design flow without being written to intermediate files.
In Non-Project Mode, you must run each design step individually, with the appropriate options for each implementation Tcl command.
Non-Project Mode allows you to apply design changes and proceed through the design flow without needing to save changes and rerun steps. You can run reports and save design checkpoints (.dcp) at any stage of the design flow.
You can save design checkpoints in both Project Mode and Non-Project Mode. You can only open design checkpoints in Non-Project Mode.