Live data from Hacker News

Quantum Development Kit preview

blogs.microsoft.com

51–55 of 55 posts

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#51
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it will be really easy to google Hopefully :) Sometimes it gets spelled as LIQ𝑈𝑖⏐〉 ( http://stationq.github.io/Liquid/ ) which is different from LIQUi|> ( https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/project/language-in... ), which is different from LIQUID. It all depends on how Google feels about qubits on any given day.

But can you spell it all three ways at the same time?

The exact answer would take more time than I have, so I'll say maybe.

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#52
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn't know that you can use Visual Studio on anything that is not Windows. I'll try to install it. Edit: Looks like you need Visual Studio Community for this SDK which Microsoft only has a Windows version.

Looks like it's available for Mac as well: https://www.visualstudio.com/thank-you-downloading-visual-st... Edit: The QDK does not have Mac support yet.

Hi, I'm one of the devs on Q#! We're excited to make this preview release of Microsoft's Quantum Development Kit available on Windows PCs. We're exploring the possibility of supporting other platforms in the future and will share more about this at a later time.

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#53
post #2

Nice to see Microsoft's progress in quantum computing. It seems like you can't use this SDK without Visual Studio. If you don't have Visual Studio, you can use LIQUi|> [0]; another quantum SDK from Microsoft. [0]: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/project/language-in...

Hi, I'm a dev on Q#, and wanted to help clarify a bit how the Quantum Development Kit relates to LIQUi|〉. Microsoft's Quantum Development Kit is a successor to LIQUi|⟩ and we're excited for you to download it and begin writing Q# code. LIQUi|⟩ is focused on the efficient simulation of a quantum computer on a classical one. Q# is a language that will let you program actual quantum computers (in the future). As such, there are areas where LIQUi|⟩ can currently out-perform Q# when it is used on one of the provided simulators (which are striving to emulate the actual gates on quantum hardware). Over time, more simulators will be provided for Q# that will meet (and exceed) the efficiency of LIQUi|⟩ and at that point, we will fully retire LIQUi|⟩.

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#54
post #21

“toughest challenges, such as world hunger or the dangerous effects of climate change” How does quantum computing address world hunger or climate change? Convincing humans to not use fossil fuels or to eat less beef doesn’t need Shor’s algorithm.

Shor's algorithm is not the only potential application for quantum computers. Simulating quantum mechanics and optimization is what quantum computers will probably be used for in the next couple of years. Regarding the world hunger and climate change claim. I think they are referring to the fact that quantum computers can simulate quantum chemistry more efficiently compared to classical computers. This article [0] ta…

I have fond memories of running MM simulations on an SGI workstation so I totally grok the potential. Not arguing against the utility of QC - just trying to slow down the hype train. Telling someone that downloading an SDK will anytime soon solve climate change is distracting from the currently available non-QC options we have.

My concern is magic tech solutions to easily solved problems allow lazy humans to keep polluting and point to some phantasmagorical silver bullet in the not too distant future...which inevitably comes much much later than expected.

In short, at current CO2 emission growth rates, the Antarctic ice sheets will melt long before QC allows chemists to produce emission free petroleum use or planet scale carbon capture and sequestration. Let's use those future tools for Mars colonization in 2150, but for now, for our kids' sakes, let's stop making throwaway plastic baubles by the tons, relying on petroleum based fertilizers for Big Mac production, and fix the many very solvable behavioral problems with today's tech.

EDIT: typo

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#55
post #20

“toughest challenges, such as world hunger or the dangerous effects of climate change” How does quantum computing address world hunger or climate change? Convincing humans to not use fossil fuels or to eat less beef doesn’t need Shor’s algorithm.

Quantum computer would enable systematic approach in areas like material sciences and molecular biology, which today are essentially trial and error.

Thumbs up for QC in general. Thumbs down for hype.
Post reply on HN