Validation of an analyzability model for quantum software: a family of experiments

TL;DR

This paper empirically validates a hybrid software analyzability model for quantum components, demonstrating its effectiveness in measuring and aligning with human perceptions of quantum algorithm complexity.

Contribution

It provides the first empirical validation of a quantum software analyzability model based on ISO/IEC 25010, confirming its ability to assess quantum software complexity.

Findings

The model effectively differentiates quantum software analyzability levels.

The model's assessments align with participant perceptions.

Validation was conducted through four diverse experimental studies.

Abstract

The analyzability of hybrid software, which integrates both classical and quantum components, is a key factor in ensuring its maintainability and industrial adoption. This article presents the empirical validation, through a family of experiments, of the quantum component of a previously proposed hybrid software analyzability model based on the ISO/IEC 25010 standard. The experimental series consists of four studies involving participants with diverse profiles in both academic and professional settings. In these experiments, the model's ability to effectively measure the analyzability of quantum algorithms is assessed, and the relationship between the analyzability levels computed by the model and the participant's perceptions of the complexity of these algorithms is examined. The results indicate that the proposed model effectively distinguishes between quantum software components with varying levels of analyzability and aligns with human perception, reinforcing its validity in quantum computing.