Three Quantum Programming Language Parser Implementations for the Web

TL;DR

This paper presents the first web-compatible parsers for three quantum programming languages—QASM, QMASM, and Blackbird—enabling their use in web and mobile environments for broader adoption and research.

Contribution

It introduces TypeScript-based parsers for QASM, QMASM, and Blackbird, making these quantum languages accessible on web platforms for the first time.

Findings

First web-compatible parsers for Blackbird and QMASM

Enables execution of quantum languages in web and mobile environments

Facilitates broader adoption and research in quantum programming

Abstract

IBM has developed a quantum assembly (QASM) language particular to gate model quantum computing since 2017 [CBSG17]. Version 3.0 which adds timing, pulse control, and gate modifiers is currently undergoing finalization in 2023 [CJA+21]. In a similar vein, Pakin of Los Alamos National Laboratory published a quantum macro assembler (QMASM) for D-Wave quantum annealers in 2016 [Pak16]. This assembler specifically targets quantum annealers like D-Wave's. A comparable technology that targets continuous-variable (CV) quantum computing is the Blackbird language developed by Xanadu since 2018 [KIQ+19]. We implement parsers for each of these languages in TypeScript with a singular approach. In the cases of Blackbird and QMASM these are the first parser implementations that are web compatible and so bring these languages to a new audience and to new runtimes. This makes the parsing and execution of QMASM, QASM and Blackbird possible in web and mobile environments that don't have access to heavy compile toolchains, enabling adoption and scientific research.