We live in the information age, and technology never stands still. We look at the quantum programming languages that developers are using right now to program quantum computers. These could be the skills of the future. Just like conventional programming languages, there is not a single quantum programming language; instead, there exists a variety of languages, and use cases or preferences will typically drive the choice of these.
There are a variety of quantum languages to choose from. We have published the most famous quantum programming languages and frameworks and compiled a list of top quantum programming languages. There is also a quick start guide to quantum computer programming.
Get Started with Quantum Programming Languages
Qiskit
Qiskit is an open-source quantum computing framework developed by IBM. It allows developers to work with quantum circuits, algorithms, and quantum applications using Python. One of its standout features is its compatibility with real quantum hardware, allowing developers to test their quantum programs on actual quantum computers provided by IBM.
With Qiskit, developers can design quantum circuits at a high level (using pre-defined gates and operations) and at a low level (defining custom gates). It also offers a suite of visualization tools to help understand and debug quantum circuits. Furthermore, Qiskit provides a comprehensive library of quantum algorithms and tools for quantum machine learning, optimization, and chemistry simulations.
IBM Quantum developed Qiskit, one of the most famous quantum programming languages. Although technology is more of a ‘framework’. Developers use python to interact with an ever-growing library. Open-source: it has become a firm favorite as the go-to Quantum Programming Language for beginners and researchers.
Cirq
Developed by Google, Cirq is an open-source Python library tailored for creating, editing, and invoking Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ) circuits. It’s designed to make quantum programming more accessible, enabling researchers and developers to run quantum algorithms on real quantum processors.
Cirq places a significant emphasis on defining quantum circuits as a programming construct, making it intuitive for developers familiar with classical programming paradigms. It also provides tools for visualizing quantum circuits, optimizing them for specific quantum processors, and simulating their results. Another standout feature is its integration with Google’s quantum computing service, allowing users to run their quantum programs on Google’s quantum hardware.
Pioneered by Google, Cirq is another open-source quantum programming language. It has its followers and is a popular tool for both researchers and the curious. As another framework rather than expressly a quantum programming language, we love its syntax for interacting with quantum gates.
Q# Quantum Programming Language
Q# is Microsoft’s quantum computing programming language, integrated within the Quantum Development Kit (QDK). It’s a domain-specific language designed to express quantum algorithms in a way that’s clear and concise. Q# is part of Microsoft’s comprehensive suite of tools to make quantum computing and quantum programming more accessible to a broader audience.
What sets Q# apart is its integration with classical code, enabling developers to write both classical and quantum parts of an algorithm within the same environment. It provides rich standard libraries with pre-defined quantum operations, making it easier for developers to get started. Q# also boasts robust debugging and simulation tools. With its deep integration with Visual Studio, developers can take advantage of familiar features like setting breakpoints and inspecting quantum states.
Q#‘s name hails from a similar language named C# – a classical programming language. However, Q# is a bonafide quantum programming language that users can learn and doesn’t require another language like Python.
t|ket⟩ or TKET Quantum Software Development Kit
t|ket⟩ is a cutting-edge quantum software development kit (SDK) birthed from the innovation labs of Cambridge Quantum Computing, which has now transitioned into Quantinuum. This SDK is not just a tool but a comprehensive solution designed to empower users in the formulation, optimization, and execution of quantum algorithms across a diverse array of quantum hardware systems.
One of the hallmarks of t|ket⟩ as a quantum computing programming language lies in its adeptness at tailoring quantum circuits to resonate with the unique specifications of individual quantum devices. It delves deep into understanding the architecture and inherent noise profiles of quantum machines, ensuring that the circuits are not just compatible but are optimized for peak performance. This meticulous optimization process, guided by t|ket⟩, ensures that quantum computations are not only faster but also more reliable, mitigating the challenges posed by quantum noise.
TKET from Quantinuum. Quantum programming kit emerges from one of the world’s largest dedicated quantum computing companies, leading the way in quantum machine learning and Quantum NLP.
Strawberry Fields
Originating from the innovative minds at Xanadu, Strawberry Fields emerges as a comprehensive Python library for photonic quantum computing.
Strawberry Fields is a software framework developed by Xanadu, a company specializing in quantum computing solutions. The primary objective of Strawberry Fields is to facilitate quantum computation using continuous variables, in contrast to the more commonly known qubit-based quantum computing.
The framework is designed for photonic quantum computation, where quantum information is processed using light. This offers a unique approach to quantum computation, leveraging the properties of photons and their interactions.
Strawberry Fields integrates with TensorFlow, a popular machine-learning framework. This allows users to harness machine learning techniques alongside quantum computations, paving the way for hybrid quantum-classical machine learning models.
Another Beatles-themed innovation from Xanadu, Canada’s Photonic Quantum Computing Company.
PennyLane
PennyLane, a sophisticated Python library, has carved a niche in the expansive quantum computing landscape, particularly due to its emphasis on quantum machine learning. Bridging the gap between quantum mechanics and machine learning, PennyLane offers a unified platform that transcends the limitations of singular quantum computing frameworks.
PennyLane is an open-source software library developed by Xanadu Quantum Technologies. It is designed to facilitate quantum machine learning (QML), a field that integrates quantum computing with classical machine learning techniques. PennyLane provides tools for quantum circuit construction, optimization, and machine learning integration.
At the heart of many quantum machine learning applications are variational quantum algorithms. PennyLane provides support for the development and optimization of such algorithms.
PennyLane is hardware agnostic, which means it can interface with various quantum hardware and simulators. Xanadu’s own Strawberry Fields, for quantum photonic computing, is one such platform supported. However, PennyLane can also work with other quantum devices.
Xanadu, the Canadian Quantum Computing Company, is pioneering QML, and the framework PennyLane is prevalent.
The Future of Quantum Computing Programming Languages
Quantum computing is still in its nascent stages, and the landscape is continuously evolving. As the field matures, we can expect newer languages and tools to emerge, while existing ones will undergo refinements and expansions. For developers keen on joining the quantum revolution, gaining proficiency in one or more of these languages is a strategic move.
In the information age, staying updated with the latest technological trends is crucial. Quantum programming languages are undoubtedly essential skills for the future, and early adopters stand to benefit immensely from this technological paradigm shift. As quantum computers become more prevalent, the demand for quantum programmers will undoubtedly rise, making it a lucrative and future-proof career choice.