A　new　computer　program　SYNTHE　for　the　kinematic　synthesis　of　planar　linkage　mechanisms　is　described.　The　program　uses　a　new　penalty　function　which　contains　many　advantages　not　found　elsewhere　and　also　incorporates　automatic　random　search　routines　which　increase　the　probability　of　attaining　the　global　minimum　of　the　objective　function.　CPU　time　is　greatly　reduced　by　increasing　the　severity　of　the　convergence　criteria　after　the　first　few　iterations　and　a　highly　significant　decrease　in　the　RMS　error　is　demonstrated　by　comparison　with　another　program.　The　new　program　has　a　very　simple　input　data　structure　which　minimizes　data　preparation　time.