A method for designing a logic circuit and a CAD program which allow a
logic circuit with desired performance to be designed in a short period
of time by suppressing the elongation of a logic design period for
achieving a circuit area, an operating speed, power consumption, and the
like as target specifications are provided at low cost. Shorter-period
and lower-cost design is accomplished by allowing a user to use a
high-performance logic synthesis CAD program at no charge if he only
checks circuit characteristics resulting from synthesis and collecting a
fee if the user is satisfied with the resulting circuit characteristics
and intends to use a gate level logic circuit. In a design phase which
receives a register transfer level or operation level logic circuit and
synthesizes a gate level logic circuit, desired circuit characteristics
are obtainable in a short period of time at low cost.