What is the meaning of "do not populate test points" in a board schematic
Test points are very useful during development.  A test point can be a flat SMT pad, or a throughole pad.  Sometimes, a test point has a loop for clipping a probe onto (throughole examples, SMT examples).  Sometimes, these loops are used only during R&amp;D testing.  In mass production the test points are contacted by automated test equipment, and the loops aren't installed in production to save cost.