Software Architecture for Quantum Computing Systems -- A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This systematic review explores how software architecture principles, modeling languages, and tools can be adapted to develop and evolve quantum computing software, highlighting current practices and future research directions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of existing architectural processes, notations, and tools tailored for quantum software, identifying gaps and opportunities for future development.

Findings

Quantum software is a new genre requiring tailored architectural approaches.

Existing modeling notations can be adapted for quantum components.

Tool support can incorporate reusable knowledge and automate architectural tasks.

Abstract

Quantum computing systems rely on the principles of quantum mechanics to perform a multitude of computationally challenging tasks more efficiently than their classical counterparts. The architecture of software-intensive systems can empower architects who can leverage architecture-centric processes, practices, description languages, etc., to model, develop, and evolve quantum computing software (quantum software for short) at higher abstraction levels. We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to investigate (i) architectural process, (ii) modeling notations, (iii) architecture design patterns, (iv) tool support, and (iv) challenging factors for quantum software architecture. Results of the SLR indicate that quantum software represents a new genre of software-intensive systems; however, existing processes and notations can be tailored to derive the architecting activities and develop modeling languages for quantum software. Quantum bits (Qubits) mapped to Quantum gates (Qugates) can be represented as architectural components and connectors that implement quantum software. Tool-chains can incorporate reusable knowledge and human roles (e.g., quantum domain engineers, quantum code developers) to automate and customize the architectural process. Results of this SLR can facilitate researchers and practitioners to develop new hypotheses to be tested, derive reference architectures, and leverage architecture-centric principles and practices to engineer emerging and next generations of quantum software.