Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:0804.1118 · International Conference on Quantum, Nano and Micro Technologies (ICQNM)

A Survey of Quantum Programming Languages: History, Methods, and Tools

Donald Sofge

Published Feb 1, 2008• 29 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Quantum computer programming is emerging as a new subject domain from multidisciplinary research in quantum computing, computer science, mathematics (especially quantum logic, lambda calculi, and linear logic), and engineering attempts to build the first non-trivial quantum computer. This paper briefly surveys the history, methods, and proposed tools for programming quantum computers circa late 2007. It is intended to provide an extensive but non-exhaustive look at work leading up to the current state-of-the-art in quantum computer programming. Further, it is an attempt to analyze the needed programming tools for quantum programmers, to use this analysis to predict the direction in which the field is moving, and to make recommendations for further development of quantum programming language tools.

DOI
10.1109/icqnm.2008.15

Related papers

Quantum Programming: Past, Present, Future

Donald Sofge, Luigi Accardi, Guillaume Adenier +5 more

This paper reviews the history and current (2008) state‐of‐the‐art methods for programming quantum computers. We analyze the needs for programming quantum computers in the near future (when actual quantum computing hardware is available), and use this analysis to predict the direction in which the field is moving, and make recommendations for further development of quantum programming language tools.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2009•0 citations

Quantum software development: a survey

Luis Jiménez-Navajas, Fabian Bühler, Frank Leymann +3 more

Over the last few years, quantum computing has been growing at an exponential pace. Every day, new techniques, frameworks, modeling, and programming languages are emerging that aim to facilitate the development of quantum software, which is key to achieving the promising applications of quantum computing. However, which of these are actively used and the degree of satisfaction of researchers and developers regarding these quantum software frameworks and languages is not known. To address this, we conducted a survey to characterize which modeling tools and which quantum programming languages are used during the quantum software lifecycle. Researchers in academia and industry developers were surveyed, and a total of 57 responses were collected. The results indicate that during quantum software development, some models and diagrams are used to guide development. In addition, the survey results show what quantum programming languages are the most used alongside the classical programming languages employed to build hybrid programs, among other important insights. The implications of this survey are: (i) to find out what the current trends are within quantum software development and (ii) to find out what the needs are of quantum software developers with respect to current modeling and programming languages and tools.

Quantum Information and Computation•Jun 1, 2024•5 citations

Quantum programming languages: survey and bibliography

Simon J. Gay

The field of quantum programming languages is developing rapidly and there is a surprisingly large literature. Research in this area includes the design of programming languages for quantum computing, the application of established semantic and logical techniques to the foundations of quantum mechanics, and the design of compilers for quantum programming languages. This article justifies the study of quantum programming languages, presents the basics of quantum computing, surveys the literature in quantum programming languages, and indicates directions for future research.

Mathematical Structures in Computer Science•Jul 24, 2006•178 citations

Quantum Computer Programming Languages for Aerospace Applications

Fred C. Briggs

Quantum computing is rapidly becoming an invaluable component of aerospace analysis. Selecting a programing language that enables efficient quantum algorithm development and integrates seamlessly with classical simulation tools is essential for translating these capabilities into practice. This paper is a general literature survey of recent research and publications that will attempt to answer the question: What may be appropriate quantum computing software programming language(s) for aerospace applications? What quantum programming language(s) would be suitable for scientific and engineering calculations as FORTRAN was for classical computing? Quantum computing has the potential to make complex aerospace simulations like Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), material, and boundary layer analysis much faster and more efficient. Successful quantum enhancement work has already been completed towards secure quantum space networks, space weather detection and early warning alerts, satellite image processing, and flight path optimization. There is a plethora (thirty-six plus) of quantum computing languages and toolkits today. How do they deal effectively with the unique characteristics of quantum computing like entanglement and the no cloning theory? The differences between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum computing will be discussed and a survey of the current quantum computing software and tools will be presented. A framework for choosing an appropriate quantum programming language for aerospace applications is also provided. Findings from the literature show Python used with the Qiskit platform could be the most useful for aerospace applications.

AIAA SciTech Forum•Jan 8, 2026•0 citations

A Programmer'S Survey Of The Quantum Computing Paradigm

Philippe Jorrand

Research in quantum computation is looking for the consequences of having information encoding, processing and communication exploit the laws of quantum physics, i.e. the laws which govern the ultimate knowledge that we have, today, of the foreign world of elementary particles, as described by quantum mechanics. This paper starts with a short survey of the principles which underlie quantum computing, and of some of the major breakthroughs brought by the first ten to fifteen years of research in this domain; quantum algorithms and quantum teleportation are very biefly presented. The next sections are devoted to one among the many directions of current research in the quantum computation paradigm, namely quantum programming languages and their semantics. A few other hot topics and open problems in quantum information processing and communication are mentionned in few words in the concluding remarks, the most difficult of them being the physical implementation of a quantum computer. The interested reader will find a list of useful references at the end of the paper.

•Aug 23, 2007•3 citations

The Q# programming language investigation

I. Bozhko, Г. Г. Четвериков, Yurij Kolisnyk

This work is the investigation of the current state of the existing tools for quantum computing, especially the Q# programming language as the most developed tool for this nowadays. Since quantum computing is one of the main research area today, the respective tools are being created. These tools should simplify the development of quantum programs, on the one hand, and provide some platform for testing and running them, on the other hand. So the authors investigated the currently available tools and provided the results in the article.

Bionics of Intelligence•Jun 2, 2018•0 citations
Quantum computer programming is emerging as a new subject domain from multidisciplinary research in quantum computing, computer science, mathematics (especially quantum logic, lambda calculi, and linear logic), and engineering attempts to build the first non-trivial quantum computer. This paper briefly surveys the history, methods, and proposed tools for programming quantum computers circa late 2007. It is intended to provide an extensive but non-exhaustive look at work leading up to the current state-of-the-art in quantum computer programming. Further, it is an attempt to analyze the needed programming tools for quantum programmers, to use this analysis to predict the direction in which the field is moving, and to make recommendations for further development of quantum programming language tools.
Over the last few years, quantum computing has been growing at an exponential pace. Every day, new techniques, frameworks, modeling, and programming languages are emerging that aim to facilitate the development of quantum software, which is key to achieving the promising applications of quantum computing. However, which of these are actively used and the degree of satisfaction of researchers and developers regarding these quantum software frameworks and languages is not known. To address this, we conducted a survey to characterize which modeling tools and which quantum programming languages are used during the quantum software lifecycle. Researchers in academia and industry developers were surveyed, and a total of 57 responses were collected. The results indicate that during quantum software development, some models and diagrams are used to guide development. In addition, the survey results show what quantum programming languages are the most used alongside the classical programming languages employed to build hybrid programs, among other important insights. The implications of this survey are: (i) to find out what the current trends are within quantum software development and (ii) to find out what the needs are of quantum software developers with respect to current modeling and programming languages and tools.
The field of quantum programming languages is developing rapidly and there is a surprisingly large literature. Research in this area includes the design of programming languages for quantum computing, the application of established semantic and logical techniques to the foundations of quantum mechanics, and the design of compilers for quantum programming languages. This article justifies the study of quantum programming languages, presents the basics of quantum computing, surveys the literature in quantum programming languages, and indicates directions for future research.
Quantum computing is rapidly becoming an invaluable component of aerospace analysis. Selecting a programing language that enables efficient quantum algorithm development and integrates seamlessly with classical simulation tools is essential for translating these capabilities into practice. This paper is a general literature survey of recent research and publications that will attempt to answer the question: What may be appropriate quantum computing software programming language(s) for aerospace applications? What quantum programming language(s) would be suitable for scientific and engineering calculations as FORTRAN was for classical computing? Quantum computing has the potential to make complex aerospace simulations like Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), material, and boundary layer analysis much faster and more efficient. Successful quantum enhancement work has already been completed towards secure quantum space networks, space weather detection and early warning alerts, satellite image processing, and flight path optimization. There is a plethora (thirty-six plus) of quantum computing languages and toolkits today. How do they deal effectively with the unique characteristics of quantum computing like entanglement and the no cloning theory? The differences between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum computing will be discussed and a survey of the current quantum computing software and tools will be presented. A framework for choosing an appropriate quantum programming language for aerospace applications is also provided. Findings from the literature show Python used with the Qiskit platform could be the most useful for aerospace applications.
Research in quantum computation is looking for the consequences of having information encoding, processing and communication exploit the laws of quantum physics, i.e. the laws which govern the ultimate knowledge that we have, today, of the foreign world of elementary particles, as described by quantum mechanics. This paper starts with a short survey of the principles which underlie quantum computing, and of some of the major breakthroughs brought by the first ten to fifteen years of research in this domain; quantum algorithms and quantum teleportation are very biefly presented. The next sections are devoted to one among the many directions of current research in the quantum computation paradigm, namely quantum programming languages and their semantics. A few other hot topics and open problems in quantum information processing and communication are mentionned in few words in the concluding remarks, the most difficult of them being the physical implementation of a quantum computer. The interested reader will find a list of useful references at the end of the paper.
This work is the investigation of the current state of the existing tools for quantum computing, especially the Q# programming language as the most developed tool for this nowadays. Since quantum computing is one of the main research area today, the respective tools are being created. These tools should simplify the development of quantum programs, on the one hand, and provide some platform for testing and running them, on the other hand. So the authors investigated the currently available tools and provided the results in the article.