Quantum software engineering is an emerging genre of software engineering that exploit principles of quantum bits (Qubit) and quantum gates (Qgates) to solve complex computing problems effeciently than their classical counterparts. According to its proponents, agile software development practices have the potential to address many of the problems endemic to the development of quantum software. However, there is a dearth of evidence investigating whether agile practices are suitable for, and can be adopted by, software teams in the context of quantum software development. To address this lack, we conducted an empirical study to investigate the needs and challenges of using agile practices to develop quantum software. While our semi-structured interviews with 26 practitioners across 10 countries highlighted the applicability of agile practices in this domain, the interview findings also revealed new challenges impeding the effective incorporation of these practices. Our research findings provide a springboard for further contextualization and seamless integration of agile practices in quantum software engineering (QSE) to develop emerging and next generation of quantum software systems and application.
Quantum software engineering is an emerging genre of software engineering that exploit principles of quantum bits (Qubit) and quantum gates (Qgates) to solve complex computing problems effeciently than their classical counterparts. According to its proponents, agile software development practices have the potential to address many of the problems endemic to the development of quantum software. However, there is a dearth of evidence investigating whether agile practices are suitable for, and can be adopted by, software teams in the context of quantum software development. To address this lack, we conducted an empirical study to investigate the needs and challenges of using agile practices to develop quantum software. While our semi-structured interviews with 26 practitioners across 10 countries highlighted the applicability of agile practices in this domain, the interview findings also revealed new challenges impeding the effective incorporation of these practices. Our research findings provide a springboard for further contextualization and seamless integration of agile practices in quantum software engineering (QSE) to develop emerging and next generation of quantum software systems and application.
Abstract Quantum computing is an emerging field in which theoretical principles are being transformed into practical applications, largely due to the efforts of the developer community. In order to ensure that quantum software engineering continues to advance, it is vital to understand the experiences, challenges, and aspirations of developers. This chapter is a continuation of our previous work, which provided a comprehensive survey exploring the adoption patterns and common challenges in quantum software engineering. In addition to the survey, we conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with practitioners in the field to gain a deeper and more detailed understanding of their perspectives. Through the interviews and survey findings, we have gained nuanced insights into the motivations, hurdles, and outlook of developers toward the rapidly evolving quantum computing landscape. We describe the research methodology in detail, including the tools and techniques used, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research process. Furthermore, we present critical insights from both the survey and interviews, enriching the narrative with fresh perspectives obtained from the post-publication interviews. This chapter is a blend of academic investigation and real-world practitioner insights, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of quantum software engineering. By illuminating the path for future research and development in this dynamic field, we hope to guide the way toward continued progress and innovation.
As quantum computers advance, the complexity of the software they can execute increases as well. To ensure this software is efficient, maintainable, reusable, and cost-effective—key qualities of any industry-grade software—mature software engineering practices must be applied throughout its design, development, and operation. However, the significant differences between classical and quantum software make it challenging to directly apply classical software engineering methods to quantum systems. This challenge has led to the emergence of Quantum Software Engineering (QSE) as a distinct field within the broader software engineering landscape. In this work, a group of active researchers analyze in depth the current state of QSE research. From this analysis, the key areas of QSE are identified and explored in order to determine the most relevant open challenges that should be addressed in the next years. These challenges help identify necessary breakthroughs and future research directions for advancing QSE.
Quantum software engineering (QSE) has emerged as a discipline to address the challenges associated with developing software systems in the context of advancing quantum computing technology. This paper explores architectural design patterns specific to QSE. Building on previous work highlighting the need for high-level patterns, we analyze emerging architectural approaches in quantum computing. We identify key challenges unique to hybrid quantum-classical systems and propose a preliminary taxonomy of QSE architectural patterns. These patterns address recurring design problems in areas such as quantum resource management and classical-quantum integration. We describe several potential patterns and discuss their theoretical applications in hybrid software systems. This work aims to provide a foundation for further research into standardizing QSE architectural practices, with the goal of enhancing various quality characteristics of hybrid software (e.g., modularity or maintainability) in the NISQ era and beyond.
Context: Quantum Software Engineering (QSE) has emerged as a promising discipline to support the development of quantum applications by integrating quantum computing principles with established software engineering practices. Problem: Despite recent growth, QSE still lacks standardized methodologies, tools, and guidelines. Moreover, countries like Brazil have had minimal representation in the development of this emerging field. Objective: This study aims to map the current state of QSE by identifying research trends, contributions, and gaps that can inform future investigations and strategic initiatives. Methodology: A systematic mapping study was conducted across major scientific databases, retrieving 3,219 studies. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 3,052 studies were excluded, resulting in 167 selected for analysis. The publications were classified by study type, research type, and alignment with SWEBOK knowledge areas. Results: Most studies focused on Software Engineering Models and Methods, Software Architecture, and Software Testing. Conceptual and technical proposals were predominant, while empirical validations remained limited. Conclusions: QSE is still a maturing field. Advancing it requires standardization, more empirical research, and greater participation from developing countries. As its main contribution, this study proposes a Brazilian Research Agenda in QSE to guide national efforts and foster the development of a strong local scientific community.
As quantum computing transitions from a theoretical domain to a practical technology, many aspects of established practice in software engineering are being faced with new challenges. Quantum Software Engineering has been developed to address the peculiar needs that arise with quantum systems’ dependable, scalable, and fault-tolerant software development. The present paper critically reviews how traditional software engineering methodologies can be reshaped to fit into the quantum field. This also entails providing some critical contributions: frameworks to integrate classical and quantum systems, new error mitigation techniques, and the development of quantum-specific testing and debugging tools. In this respect, best practices have been recommended to ensure that future quantum software can harness the evolving capabilities of quantum hardware with continued performance, reliability, and scalability. The work is supposed to act as a foundational guide for the researcher and developer as quantum computing approaches widespread scientific and industrial adoption.
Despite the increasing interest in quantum computing, the aspect of development to achieve cost-effective and reliable quantum software applications has been slow. One barrier is the software engineering of quantum programs, which can be approached from two directions. On the one hand, many software engineering practices, debugging in particular, are bound to classical computing. On the other hand, quantum programming is closely associated with the phenomena of quantum physics, and consequently, the way we express programs resembles the early days of programming. Moreover, much of the software engineering research today focuses on agile development, where computing cycles are cheap and new software can be rapidly deployed and tested, whereas in the quantum context, executions may consume lots of energy, and test runs may require lots of work to interpret. In this paper, we aim at bridging this gap by starting with the quantum computing workflow and by mapping existing software engineering research to this workflow. Based on the mapping, we then identify directions for software engineering research for quantum computing.