QADL: Prototype of Quantum Architecture Description Language

TL;DR

QADL is a novel high-level language and environment for designing, specifying, and evaluating quantum software architectures, integrating graphical design, syntax checking, and execution with IBM Qiskit.

Contribution

QADL introduces a new architecture description language tailored for quantum software, enabling high-level modeling and integration with quantum computing tools.

Findings

Usability assessments show QADL is effective for quantum algorithm design.

QADL supports specification and execution of quantum algorithms like Quantum Teleportation.

Integration with IBM Qiskit enables practical quantum software development.

Abstract

Quantum Software (QSW) uses the principles of quantum mechanics, specifically programming quantum bits (qubits) that manipulate quantum gates, to implement quantum computing systems. QSW has become a specialized field of software development, requiring specific notations, languages, patterns, and tools for mapping the behavior of qubits and the structure of quantum gates to components and connectors of QSW architectures. To support declarative modeling of QSW, we aim to enable architecture-driven development, where software engineers can design, program, and evaluate quantum software systems by abstracting complex details through high-level components and connectors. We introduce QADL (Quantum Architecture Description Language), which provides a specification language, design space, and execution environment for architecting QSW. Inspired by classical ADLs, QADL offers (1) a graphical interface to specify and design QSW components, (2) a parser for syntactical correctness, and (3) an execution environment by integrating QADL with IBM Qiskit. The initial evaluation of QADL is based on usability assessments by a team of quantum physicists and software engineers, using quantum algorithms such as Quantum Teleportation and Grover's Search. QADL offers a pioneering specification language and environment for QSW architecture. A demo is available at https://youtu.be/xaplHH_3NtQ.