Qiskit 1.0, a significant milestone in quantum computing, is set to be released in February 2024. The open-source software development kit (SDK) is the result of six years of work by thousands of users and contributors. The new version will focus on performance, stability, and usability, allowing users to build and transpile 100+ qubit circuits with ease. It will also lay the groundwork for future 1000+ qubit capabilities. The release will introduce a new phase of Qiskit development, including a high-performance code base, a leaner package, a more stable API, and a primitives-first approach for quantum hardware.
Introduction to Qiskit 1.0
Qiskit 1.0, a significant milestone in quantum computing, is set to be released in February 2024. This open-source software development kit (SDK) for quantum computing has been developed over six years, thanks to the contributions of hundreds of contributors and the enthusiasm of thousands of users. The upcoming release marks a new phase in Qiskit development, focusing on performance, stability, and usability.
- A high-performance code base: We have steadily been improving performance over the years, and Qiskit 1.0 is set to be the best version yet. It will enable users to build and transpile 100+ qubit circuits with comparative ease, and lay the groundwork for future 1000+ qubit capabilities.
- A leaner package: We’ve made changes such as the removal of the metapackage architecture, the splitting out of qiskit.algorithms into a separate package, and the deprecation of various modules (e.g.
qiskit.opflow) — all to keep the Qiskit codebase more focused, stable, and maintainable. In the long run, this paves the way for a more performant and usable package. - A more stable API: The launch of Qiskit 1.0 will move Qiskit development into a new release and versioning cycle, with less frequent breaking changes. (More details on this later.)
- Primitives are the access model for quantum hardware: The Qiskit codebase defines a primitives execution model for quantum hardware, with pre-existing functionality being refactored to use primitives and future functionality being developed with a primitives-first approach.
- An SDK to build upon: The transpiler plugin interface and the Qiskit Ecosystem program (among other things) are designed to encourage the further extension of Qiskit’s capabilities by users and contributors.
Enhancements in Qiskit 1.0
Qiskit 1.0 is designed for working with quantum computers at the level of extended quantum circuits, operators, and primitives. The new version brings several improvements, including a high-performance code base, a leaner package, a more stable API, and a primitive execution model for quantum hardware. It also encourages further extension of Qiskit’s capabilities by users and contributors through the transpiler plugin interface and the Qiskit Ecosystem program.
Performance Improvements in Qiskit 1.0
Qiskit 1.0 promises improved performance in terms of speed and memory. The introduction of Rust code and ongoing internal refactoring has resulted in features working faster. For instance, the transpiler in Qiskit 1.0 can bind and transpile circuits 16x faster than Qiskit 0.33. Additionally, Qiskit 1.0 demonstrates an average 55% decrease in memory usage compared to Qiskit 0.39.
Pre-release and Upgrade to Qiskit 1.0
Before the full release in February 2024, a pre-release of Qiskit 1.0 will be available on December 4, 2023. This will allow users and contributors to test out Qiskit 1.0 early. To upgrade to Qiskit 1.0, users must create a new virtual environment due to the new packaging structure. Instructions for creating a new virtual environment and installing Qiskit 1.0 are provided in the article.
Preparing for Qiskit 1.0
Users are advised to install Qiskit 0.46 when it is released in early February 2024 to prepare for the transition to Qiskit 1.0. Running their code with Qiskit 0.46 will help users identify any breaking changes and modify their code for Qiskit 1.0. Qiskit 0.46 will be supported with bugfixes, but no new features, for six months after its release.
Impact on Projects Depending on Qiskit
Projects that depend on Qiskit will need some time to support Qiskit 1.0. Users are advised not to install packages that require Qiskit versions before Qiskit 1.0 in the same environment where they have Qiskit 1.0 installed. Project maintainers are advised to make necessary modifications to their dependency management to support Qiskit 1.0.
Breaking Changes and New Development Cycle
Qiskit 1.0 will introduce some breaking changes, mainly affecting data-structure internals. The best way to prepare for these changes is to try out the Qiskit 1.0 pre-release and the final minor version Qiskit 0.46. With the transition to Qiskit 1.0, the development cycle of Qiskit is also changing, with a minimum of one year between major releases and minor version releases happening every three months.
The release of Qiskit 1.0 is a significant step in developing quantum computing. Despite the anticipated initial disruption, the new version promises a more stable and less breaking future for the package. The Qiskit team expresses gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this milestone and looks forward to continued support in the next phase of their development journey.
“This upcoming release signals a new phase for Qiskit development, one centered on performance, stability and usability. Qiskit 1.0 is an open-source SDK for working with quantum computers at the level of extended quantum circuits, operators, and primitives.”
“We know it’s not enough for us to just say “Qiskit is more performant now!” We know you want to see the numbers, so let’s take a deeper look at what we mean when we talk about improved performance for Qiskit 1.0.”
Quick Qiskit 1.0 Summary
The open-source software development kit (SDK) for quantum computing, Qiskit 1.0, is set to be released in February 2024, marking a significant milestone in the field. The new version promises improved performance, stability, and usability, enabling users to build and transpile 100+ qubit circuits with ease and laying the groundwork for future 1000+ qubit capabilities. IBM who back Qiskit have recently announced a system with over 1,000 qubits.
- Qiskit 1.0, a significant milestone in quantum computing, is set to be released in February 2024.
- The new version results from six years of open-source efforts, with contributions from hundreds of individuals.
- Qiskit 1.0 is an open-source Software Development Kit (SDK) for working with quantum computers at extended quantum circuits, operators, and primitives.
- The new version will focus on performance, stability, and usability. It will allow users to build and transpile 100+ qubit circuits easily and lay the groundwork for future 1000+ qubit capabilities.
- Changes have been made to improve the performance of the code base, create a leaner package, and provide a more stable API.
- The Qiskit codebase provides a primitives execution model for quantum hardware, with future functionality being developed with a primitives-first approach.
- The transpiler plugin interface and the Qiskit Ecosystem program are designed to encourage the further extension of Qiskit’s capabilities by users and contributors.
- A pre-release of Qiskit 1.0 will be available in December 2023, with a full release following in February 2024.
- Users must create a new virtual environment to install Qiskit 1.0 due to a new packaging structure.
- The release of Qiskit 1.0 will result in some initial disruption, but it is necessary to pave the way towards a more stable future for the package.