Vivado compiles designs in either Project Mode or Non-Project Mode. In Project Mode, Vivado manages file source sets, dependencies, and runs. You can drive Project Mode using scripts or interactively in the GUI.
In Non-Project Mode, you use scripts to compile designs directly from the sources. You are responsible for keeping scripts are updated and re-running the correct steps when sources change.
This chapter focuses on revision control for Vivado projects. Non-Project Mode customers generally follow the script-based method of revision controlling a Vivado project described in the following sections. Although revision control does not dictate how you compile designs, your build method impacts your revision control strategy.