To make quantum computing accessible to a wide range of users from different backgrounds and fields, a comprehensive and unified software stack is needed. Such a software stack should be generic and flexible: It should be able to target multiple and different hardware platforms and support all kinds of potential quantum algorithms, including future algorithms that do not yet exist. New requirements need to be addressed, such as dynamic compilation that takes into account up-to-date calibration data from the individual hardware systems. To enable users unfamiliar with quantum physics to use quantum computing resources, programming at a high level of abstraction must be enough to run their applications. In general, methods and tools are needed to automate the workflow from user to backend execution.
Of particular importance is the deep integration of quantum software with existing software stacks for classical high-performance computing (HPC). This is because quantum computing systems are expected to be used not only as stand-alone computers, but even more so as HPC accelerators, that is, quantum systems are suitable for speeding up very targeted problems, while the remaining computation requires classical HPC systems.
For more information, see the project’s page (external link).