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
You can run through the checkpoint designs through the remainder of the design flow using Tcl commands. You cannot modify them 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, you must rerun the flow to get back to
the same stage.