Towards a Standardised Quantum Software Stack

Quantum computers have the potential to solve problems that are currently not tractable. In order to leverage this potential, the article presents concepts of a high-level quantum programming language and corresponding software layers to pave a way for efficient and interoperable programming of quantum computers. The development of quantum algorithms with potentially exponential speedup compared to classical algorithms has generated broad interest in both research and industry. Advances in hardware development, with better gate fidelities and increasing qubit numbers, indicate that this potential may be accessible in a few years [1]. In preparation for this quantum advantage, many initiatives are already developing and testing software frameworks that make it possible to build quantum programs and execute them either on a simulator or on currently available quantum devices.