The Vivado Design Suite uses a physical design database to store placement and routing information. Design checkpoint files (.dcp) allow you to save and restore this physical database at key points in the design flow. A checkpoint is a snapshot of a design at a specific point in the flow.
This design checkpoint file includes:
- Current netlist, including any optimizations made during implementation
- Design constraints
- Implementation results
Checkpoint designs can be run through the remainder of the design flow using Tcl commands. They cannot be modified with new design sources.
Important: In Project Mode, the Vivado design tools
automatically save and restore checkpoints as the design progresses. In Non-Project
Mode, you must save checkpoints at appropriate stages of the design flow, otherwise,
progress is lost.