A Taxonomic View of the Fundamental Concepts of Quantum Computing–A Software Engineering Perspective
Reyes Juárez‐Ramírez, Christian X. Navarro, Samantha Jiménez, Alan David Ramírez Noriega, Verónica Tapia-Ibarra, César Arturo Guerra García, Héctor G. Pérez‐González, Carlos Alberto Fernández-y-Fernández
Abstract Quantum computing is based on the principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, entanglement, measurement, and decoherence. The basic units of computation are qubits, which are abstract objects with a mathematical expression to implement the quantum mechanics principles. Alongside quantum hardware, software is a principal element for conducting quantum computing. The software consists of logic gates and quantum circuits that implement algorithms for the execution of quantum programs. Due to those characteristics, quantum computing is a paradigm that non-physics experts cannot understand. Under this new scheme for developing software, it is important to integrate a conceptual framework of the fundamentals on which quantum computing is based. In this paper, we present a kind of taxonomical view of the fundamental concepts of quantum computing and the derived concepts that integrate the emerging discipline of quantum software engineering. We performed a quasi-systematic mapping for conducting the systematic review because the objective of the review only intends to detect the fundamental concepts of quantum computing and quantum software. The results can help computer science students and professors as a starting point to address the study of this discipline.
Abstract Quantum computing is based on the principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, entanglement, measurement, and decoherence. The basic units of computation are qubits, which are abstract objects with a mathematical expression to implement the quantum mechanics principles. Alongside quantum hardware, software is a principal element for conducting quantum computing. The software consists of logic gates and quantum circuits that implement algorithms for the execution of quantum programs. Due to those characteristics, quantum computing is a paradigm that non-physics experts cannot understand. Under this new scheme for developing software, it is important to integrate a conceptual framework of the fundamentals on which quantum computing is based. In this paper, we present a kind of taxonomical view of the fundamental concepts of quantum computing and the derived concepts that integrate the emerging discipline of quantum software engineering. We performed a quasi-systematic mapping for conducting the systematic review because the objective of the review only intends to detect the fundamental concepts of quantum computing and quantum software. The results can help computer science students and professors as a starting point to address the study of this discipline.
The principles of quantum mechanics – superposition, entanglement, measurement, and decoherence – form the foundation of quantum computing. Qubits, which are abstract objects having a mathematical expression to implement the rules of quantum physics, are the fundamental building blocks of computation. Software is a key component of quantum computing, along with quantum hardware. Algorithms make up software, and they are implemented using logic gates and quantum circuits. These qualities make quantum computing a paradigm that non-physicists find difficult to comprehend. It is crucial to incorporate a conceptual framework of the principles upon which quantum computing is founded into this new method of creating software. In this paper, we present a kind of taxonomical view of the fundamental concepts of quantum computing and the derived concepts that integrate the emerging discipline of quantum software engineering. Because the systematic review's main goal is to identify the core ideas behind quantum computing and quantum software, we conducted a quasi-systematic mapping as part of the review process. The findings can serve as a starting point for computer science teachers and students to address the study of this field.
Quantum computing represents a transformative paradigm that exploits the principles of quantum mechanics—superposition, entanglement, and quantum interference—to perform computations beyond the capabilities of classical computers. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the fundamental concepts underlying quantum computation, including qubits, quantum gates, quantum algorithms and measurement theory. It further examines major physical implementations of quantum computers, such as superconducting circuits, trapped ions, photonic systems, spin-based qubits, and topological approaches, highlighting their operational principles, advantages, and technological limitations. Key challenges hindering large-scale quantum computation—decoherence, error rates, qubit scalability, and fault tolerance—are critically discussed. Additionally, recent progress in quantum error correction, hybrid quantum–classical algorithms, and hardware optimization is summarized. The review concludes by outlining future research directions and potential applications of quantum computing in cryptography, materials science, optimization, and drug discovery. By integrating theoretical foundations with experimental advancements, this article aims to provide a clear and accessible reference for students, researchers, and scientists entering the rapidly evolving field of quantum computing.
Quantum software engineering (QSE) requires understanding application requirements, quantum programs and algorithms, quantum computation paradigms, executions, and deployment. However, relevant quantum computing (QC) concepts are often defined across physical, mathematical, and paradigm-specific levels of abstraction, making it difficult for the QSE community and hence proposed methods to refer to them consistently. To this end, we present QSoftCore, a conceptual model that reorganizes established QC concepts from a software engineering perspective and connects quantum applications, computational problems, algorithms, configurations, programs, and paradigm-specific computation specifications with state evolution, execution results, and backends. Our assessment against QSE literature across key software engineering activities indicates that QSoftCore provides shared QC referents for quantum computations, executions, deployment configurations, backends, and measurement evidence across the QSE lifecycle.
Quantum Computing is a new paradigm that enables several advances which are impossible using classical technology. With the rise of quantum computers, the software is also invited to change so that it can better fit this new computation way. However, although a lot of research is being conducted in the quantum computing field, it is still scarce studies about the differences of the software and software engineering in this new context. Therefore, this article presents a systematic mapping study to present a wide review on the particularities and characteristics of software that are developed for quantum computers. A total of 24 papers were selected using digital libraries with the objective of answering three research questions elaborated in the conduct of this research.
There are no doubts that quantum programming and, in general, quantum computing, is one of the most promising areas within computer science and one of the areas where most expectations are being placed in recent years. Although the days when reliable and affordable quantum computers will be available is still a long way off, the explosion of programming languages for quantum programming has grown exponentially in recent years. The software engineering community has been quick to react to the need to adopt and adapt well-known tools and methods for software development, and for the design of new ones tailored to this new programming paradigm. However, many key aspects for its success depend on the establishment of an appropriate conceptual framework for the conception and design of quantum programs. This article discusses the concept of module, key in the software engineering discipline, and establishes initial criteria for determining the cohesion and coupling levels of a module in the field of quantum programming as a first step towards a sound quantum software engineering. As detailed in the article, the conceptual differences between classical and quantum computing are so pronounced that the translation of classical concepts to the new programming approach is not straightforward.
This chapter offers an introduction to the emerging domain of quantum programming. Quantum computing demands a paradigm shift from classical approaches. Traditional programming constructs are insufficient for exploiting the complete capabilities of quantum algorithms. Instead, quantum programming languages such as Qiskit, Quipper, and Q# provide frameworks for expressing quantum algorithms in a quantum-native manner. This chapter starts by examining the fundamental principles that establish the distinctive computational paradigm of quantum computing. Then, an introduction to fundamental quantum concepts, including superposition, entanglement, and quantum gates, is provided. It explains how quantum gates manipulate qubits, orchestrating complex quantum operations. Moreover, it explores quantum parallelism and interference, which underpin the unique computational power of quantum computers. Furthermore, the chapter explores the problems of quantum error correction and fault tolerance, which are essential for mitigating the effects of decoherence and noise in quantum systems. These techniques pave the way for scalable and reliable quantum computation. Overall, this chapter serves as a comprehensive primer on quantum computing principles and their implications for programming. By explaining the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and clarifying their role in computation, it provides a foundational understanding essential for navigating the emerging field of quantum computing.