In the context of quantum-classical hybrid computing, evaluating analysability, which is the ease of understanding and modifying software, presents significant challenges due to the complexity and novelty of quantum algorithms. Although advances have been made in quantum software development, standard software quality evaluation methods do not fully address the specifics of quantum components, resulting in a gap in the ability to ensure and maintain the quality of hybrid software products. In this registered report proposal, we intend to validate a quality model focused on the analysability of hybrid software through an international collab orative approach involving academic institutions from Italy and Spain through a controlled experiment. This approach allows for a more detailed analysis and validation methodology and establishes a framework for future research and developments in software quality assessment in quantum computing.
In the context of quantum-classical hybrid computing, evaluating analysability, which is the ease of understanding and modifying software, presents significant challenges due to the complexity and novelty of quantum algorithms. Although advances have been made in quantum software development, standard software quality evaluation methods do not fully address the specifics of quantum components, resulting in a gap in the ability to ensure and maintain the quality of hybrid software products. In this registered report proposal, we intend to validate a quality model focused on the analysability of hybrid software through an international collab orative approach involving academic institutions from Italy and Spain through a controlled experiment. This approach allows for a more detailed analysis and validation methodology and establishes a framework for future research and developments in software quality assessment in quantum computing.
This doctoral dissertation, presented in the form of a compendium of publications, focuses on the design, implementation, and validation of an innovative model for evaluating analyz- ability—understood as a key subcharacteristic of maintainability—in the context of quantum software and, more broadly, hybrid software systems (those integrating classical and quantum components). In a landscape where quantum computing is rapidly advancing and beginning to consolidate in industrial applications, a pressing need arises to adapt and extend traditional software quality models, such as those established in the ISO/IEC 25000 family, to address the specific characteristics of quantum code. The lack of dedicated metrics hinders the rigorous evaluation of critical attributes like analyzability, negatively affecting hybrid systems’ maintainability, evolvability, and reliability in highly complex technical environments. The main objective of this dissertation is the design, implementation, and validation of an evaluation model focused on analyzability, which combines adapted classical metrics with newly defined indicators tailored explicitly for the quantum component. While the model targets hybrid systems, the validation has been exclusively focused on the quantum component, which constitutes the core contribution of this research. The classical part relies on well-established metrics validated and certified by bodies such as ILAC and ENAC and has therefore not been experimentally evaluated in this work. Additionally, an automated technological environment has been developed as a key element of the compendium, facilitating the practical application of the model in real-world projects. This environment enables integrated and real-time measurement of both classical and quantum metrics. However, like the model, its validation has been limited to the novel quantum indicators defined in this thesis. This approach strengthens the proposed methodology and lays the groundwork for future validation of the fully integrated hybrid model. The adopted methodology is grounded in an exhaustive review of the state of the art, the formal and informal definition of metrics, the development of the automated environment, and empirical validation through a family of experiments. The compendium of publications includes, among others, the following articles: Towards a set of metrics for hybrid (quan- tum/classical) systems maintainability, Implementing an environment for hybrid software evaluation, and Environment for the Evaluation of Hybrid (Classical-Quantum) Systems Analyzability. As part of the validation process, a preliminary study has been accepted at the international conference IQSOFT 2025, and an extended version has been submitted to the journal Empirical Software Engineering (EmSE), and is currently under review. The results demonstrate that the proposed model enables precise quantification of quantum software analyzability and that its application in hybrid systems is feasible conceptually and technically. The developed technological environment supports reproducible and systematic evaluation, laying a foundation for future applications in hybrid software engineering. The em- pirical validation conducted thus far has been deliberately limited to the quantum component, given that classical metrics are already widely established and certified. In conclusion, this dissertation represents a significant advance in the evaluation of hybrid software quality. It proposes a validated model that contributes to strengthening maintain- ability and supporting the evolution of complex systems in an ever-changing technological landscape.
Introduction: This article is the result of doctoral research conducted in 2025 on quantum software architecture, addressing the transformative potential of quantum computing and the challenges associated with integrating quantum capabilities into software systems. Problem: The lack of standardized architectural models for hybrid classical–quantum systems limits interoperability, reuse, and systematic software design. Objective: This study proposes a reference architecture to support the design and evolution of hybrid classical–quantum software systems. Methodology: The architecture was derived through a harmonization process. Results: The proposed framework defines ten architectural elements organized across three dimensions: Conceptual, Organizational, and Quality. Conclusion: The architecture provides a structured foundation for designing hybrid classical–quantum solutions. Originality: The work consolidates dispersed knowledge into a unified framework for hybrid classical–quantum systems. Limitations: The model is based on the currently limited body of literature and industrial experience, requiring future validation.
Abstract Developers of the many promising quantum computing applications that currently exist are urging companies in many different sectors seriously consider integrating this new technology into their business. For these applications to function, not only are quantum computers required, but quantum software also. Accordingly, quantum software engineering has become an important research field, in that it attempts to apply or adapt existing methods and techniques (or propose new ones) for the analysis, design, coding, and testing of quantum software, as well as playing a key role in ensuring quality in large-scale productions. The design of quantum software nevertheless poses two main challenges: the modelling of software quantum elements must be done in high-level modelling languages; and the need to further develop so-called “hybrid information systems”, which combine quantum and classical software. To address these challenges, we first propose a quantum UML profile for analysing and designing hybrid information systems; we then demonstrate its applicability through various structural and behavioural diagrams such as use case, class, sequence, activity, and deployment. In comparison to certain other quantum domain-specific languages, this UML profile ensures compliance with a well-known international standard that is supported by many tools and is followed by an extensive community.
Quantum computing is the latest revolution in computing and will probably come to be seen as an advance as important as the steam engine or the information society. In the last few decades, our understanding of quantum computers has expanded and multiple efforts have been made to create languages, libraries, tools, and environments to facilitate their programming. Nonetheless, quantum computers are complex systems at the bottom of a stack of layers that programmers need to understand. Hence, efforts towards creating quantum programming languages and computing environments that can abstract low-level technology details have become crucial steps to achieve a useful quantum computing technology. However, most of these environments still lack many of the features that would be desirable, such as those outlined in The Talavera Manifesto for Quantum Software Engineering and Programming. For advancing quantum computing, we will need to develop quantum software engineering techniques and tools to ensure the feasibility of this new type of quantum software. To contribute to this goal, this paper provides a review of the main quantum software components and platforms. We also propose a set of quality requirements for the development of quantum software platforms and the conduct of their quality assessment.
Context: Quantum software development is a complex and intricate process that diverges significantly from traditional software development. Quantum computing and quantum software are deeply entangled with quantum mechanics, which introduces a different level of abstraction and a deep dependence on quantum physical properties. The classical requirements engineering methods must be adapted to encompass the essential quantum features in this new paradigm. Aim: This study aims to systematically identify and analyze challenges, opportunities, developments, and new lines of research in requirements engineering for quantum computing. Method: We conducted a systematic literature review, including three research questions. This study included 105 papers published from 2017 to 2024. Results: The main results include the identification of problems associated with defining specific requirements for quantum software and hybrid system requirements. In addition, we identified challenges related to the absence of standards for quantum requirements engineering. Finally, we can see the advances in developing programming languages and simulation tools for developing software in hybrid systems. Conclusions: This study presents the challenges and opportunities in quantum computing requirements engineering, emphasizing the need for new methodologies and tools. It proposes a roadmap for future research to develop a standardized framework, contributing to theoretical foundations and practical applications.
As quantum computing evolves, the demand for high-quality quantum software is increasing. Classical software quality models, such as McCall's model, provide a useful foundation, but they do not explicitly capture distinctive properties of quantum software, including probabilistic measurement outcomes, backend-dependent behavior, and hybrid quantum-classical workflows. This paper proposes a base quality model for quantum software using McCall's factor-criterion-metric structure as the organizing backbone. It broadens the set of quality factors by drawing on representative classical software quality models and standards and introduces quantum-specific extensions only where needed. We define the resulting factor set and quality criteria, provide a many-to-many mapping of core factor-to-criterion relationships, discuss representative candidate metrics together with the execution, reference, and interpretation conditions needed to use them, and illustrate how the resulting model can be applied across the quantum software lifecycle. The model is intended as a common starting point for structuring, assessing, and communicating quality concerns in quantum software while supporting context-specific adaptation. Further expert feedback, case studies, and empirical studies can be used to evaluate and refine the model and its application across different quantum software contexts.