ProjectQ: An Open Source Software Framework for Quantum Computing

TL;DR

ProjectQ is an open source quantum computing framework that supports simulation, hardware execution, and extensibility for quantum algorithms, facilitating research and development in quantum software.

Contribution

It introduces a versatile, Python-embedded quantum programming language with a modular compiler framework supporting multiple hardware back-ends and simulation capabilities.

Findings

Supports running quantum algorithms on IBM Quantum Experience

Provides high-performance simulation with emulation features

Enables extension for new hardware and compilation strategies

Abstract

We introduce ProjectQ, an open source software effort for quantum computing. The first release features a compiler framework capable of targeting various types of hardware, a high-performance simulator with emulation capabilities, and compiler plug-ins for circuit drawing and resource estimation. We introduce our Python-embedded domain-specific language, present the features, and provide example implementations for quantum algorithms. The framework allows testing of quantum algorithms through simulation and enables running them on actual quantum hardware using a back-end connecting to the IBM Quantum Experience cloud service. Through extension mechanisms, users can provide back-ends to further quantum hardware, and scientists working on quantum compilation can provide plug-ins for additional compilation, optimization, gate synthesis, and layout strategies.