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Development Software
Rapid Recompile
Rapid Recompile
Rapid Recompile is an optional step in the Quartus® Prime software compilation flow that accelerates build times by reusing synthesis and fitting results from previous compilations. When design blocks remain unchanged, the tool skips reprocessing them—minimizing timing variation and reducing total compile time after small HDL modifications.
Rapid Recompile supports functional ECO flows and enables faster iteration without impacting the performance of unchanged logic.
As of Quartus Prime software version 18.0, Rapid Recompile for Stratix® 10 FPGAs includes:
- SignalTap™ logic analyzer support
- Post-fit incremental route support for SignalTap™
Common Questions
Use Rapid Recompile for small, isolated HDL changes when compatible results from a previous compilation are available. Use a full compilation for the initial build or when changes cannot reuse those results. Confirm support for your Quartus release and device.
Rapid Recompile lets the compiler determine which compatible results to reuse; incremental block-based compilation gives designers explicit control over partition preservation. Choose block-based flows when you need planned reuse of timing-closed blocks or collaboration across teams.
Savings decrease when a change affects substantial logic or makes previous compilation results incompatible. Compare compilation reports to identify repeated synthesis and fitting work; small source-code edits do not always produce small netlist changes.
Check the Quartus edition, release, target device and availability of compatible prior compilation results. Consult the matching user guide: current Pro documentation describes ECO compilation and separate Signal Tap recompilation workflows, so the historical command should not be assumed available everywhere.
Quartus Prime Pro 26.1, supported Signal Tap changes use Processing > Start Recompile to update the existing finalized snapshot while preserving placement and routing outside the Signal Tap partition. The dialog identifies unsupported changes that require reversal or full compilation.