QSE-NE 2024 – Proceedings

1st ACM International Workshop on Quantum Software Engineering: The Next Evolution (QSE-NE 2024)

Frontmatter

Papers

Quantum Software Engineering: A New Genre of Computing
Muhammad Azeem Akbar, Arif Ali Khan, Sajjad Mahmood, and Saima Rafi
(LUT University, Finland; University of Oulu, Finland; King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom)
The quantum computing (QC) field is rapidly moving beyond the realm of pure science to become a commercially viable technology that may be able to overcome the drawbacks of traditional computing. Major technology tycoons have spent in building coding frameworks and hardware to create applications specifically designed for quantum computing over the last few years. The development of QC hardware is accelerating, however, the requirement for software-intensive methodology, approaches, procedures, instruments, roles and responsibilities for creating industrial-focused quantum software applications arises from operationalizing the QC. This paper outlines the concept of quantum software engineering (QSE) life cycle, which entails the engineering of quantum requirements, design, implementation, testing and maintenance of quantum software. This paper notably advocates for collaborative efforts between the industrial community and software engineering research to propose practical solutions to support the complete activities for the development of quantum software. The proposed vision makes it easier for researchers and practitioners to suggest new procedures, reference designs, cutting-edge equipment, and methods for utilizing quantum computers and creating the newest and most advanced quantum software.

@InProceedings{QSE-NE24p1, author = {Muhammad Azeem Akbar and Arif Ali Khan and Sajjad Mahmood and Saima Rafi}, title = {Quantum Software Engineering: A New Genre of Computing}, booktitle = {Proc.\ QSE-NE}, publisher = {ACM}, pages = {1--6}, doi = {10.1145/3663531.3664750}, year = {2024}, } Publisher's Version

QCSHQD: Quantum Computing as a Service for Hybrid Classical-Quantum Software Development: A Vision
Maryam Tavassoli Sabzevari, Matteo Esposito, Davide Taibi, and Arif Ali Khan
(University of Oulu, Finland; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy)
Quantum Computing (QC) is transitioning from theoretical frameworks to an indispensable powerhouse of computational capability, resulting in extensive adoption across both industrial and academic domains. QC presents exceptional advantages, including unparalleled processing speed and the potential to solve complex problems beyond the capabilities of classical computers. Nevertheless, academic researchers and industry practitioners encounter various challenges in harnessing the benefits of this technology. The limited accessibility of QC resources for classical developers, and a general lack of domain knowledge and expertise, represent insurmountable barrier, hence to address these challenges, we introduce a framework- Quantum Computing as a Service for Hybrid Classical-Quantum Software Development (QCSHQD), which leverages service-oriented strategies. Our framework comprises three principal components: an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for user interaction, an abstraction layer dedicated to orchestrating quantum services, and a service provider responsible for executing services on quantum computer. This study presents a blueprint for QCSHQD, designed to democratize access to QC resources for classical developers who want to seamless harness QC power. The vision of QCSHQD paves the way for groundbreaking innovations by addressing key challenges of hybridization between classical and quantum computers.

@InProceedings{QSE-NE24p7, author = {Maryam Tavassoli Sabzevari and Matteo Esposito and Davide Taibi and Arif Ali Khan}, title = {QCSHQD: Quantum Computing as a Service for Hybrid Classical-Quantum Software Development: A Vision}, booktitle = {Proc.\ QSE-NE}, publisher = {ACM}, pages = {7--10}, doi = {10.1145/3663531.3664751}, year = {2024}, } Publisher's Version

𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖|𝑄⟩: Towards a Translation Framework to Bridge the Classical-Quantum Programming Gap
Matteo Esposito, Maryam Tavassoli Sabzevari, Boshuai Ye, Davide Falessi, Arif Ali Khan, and Davide Taibi
(University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy; University of Oulu, Finland; Aalto University, Finland)
Quantum computing, albeit readily available as hardware or emulated on the cloud, is still far from being available in general regarding complex programming paradigms and learning curves. This vision paper introduces Classi|Q⟩, a translation framework idea to bridge Classical and Quantum Computing by translating high-level programming languages, e.g., Python or C++, into a low-level language, e.g., Quantum Assembly. Our idea paper serves as a blueprint for ongoing efforts in quantum software engineering, offering a roadmap for further Classi|Q⟩ development to meet the diverse needs of researchers and practitioners. Classi|Q⟩ is designed to empower researchers and practitioners with no prior quantum experience to harness the potential of hybrid quantum computation. We also discuss future enhancements to Classi|Q⟩, including support for additional quantum languages, improved optimization strategies, and integration with emerging quantum computing platforms.

@InProceedings{QSE-NE24p11, author = {Matteo Esposito and Maryam Tavassoli Sabzevari and Boshuai Ye and Davide Falessi and Arif Ali Khan and Davide Taibi}, title = {𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖|𝑄⟩: Towards a Translation Framework to Bridge the Classical-Quantum Programming Gap}, booktitle = {Proc.\ QSE-NE}, publisher = {ACM}, pages = {11--14}, doi = {10.1145/3663531.3664752}, year = {2024}, } Publisher's Version

Gate Branch Coverage: A Metric for Quantum Software Testing
Daniel Fortunato, José Campos, and Rui Abreu
(University of Porto, Portugal; INESC-ID, Portugal; University of Lisbon, Portugal)
The inherent lack of technologies and knowledge from software developers about the intricacies of quantum physics constitutes a heavy hindrance in the development of correct quantum software. Therefore, quantum computing testing techniques are currently under heavy research. This paper proposes a new testing metric, Gate Branch Coverage. This metric aims to provide insight into the verification process status of quantum programs and enhance the quantum testing process overall. Gate Branch Coverage explores the properties of quantum controlled-type gates, measuring their number of exercised branches during the execution of quantum programs.

@InProceedings{QSE-NE24p15, author = {Daniel Fortunato and José Campos and Rui Abreu}, title = {Gate Branch Coverage: A Metric for Quantum Software Testing}, booktitle = {Proc.\ QSE-NE}, publisher = {ACM}, pages = {15--18}, doi = {10.1145/3663531.3664753}, year = {2024}, } Publisher's Version

A Conceptual Framework for Quantum Integration Challenges in 6G Technology
Saima Rafi, Muhammad Azeem Akbar, and Sajjad Mahmood
(Edinburgh Napier University, United Kingdom; LUT University, Finland; King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia)
This study investigates the challenges associated with the implementation of quantum computing (QC) in the context of 6G technology. It builds upon prior research to explore the pivotal role QC plays in shaping the future landscape of telecommunications. Through an in-depth analysis, we identify and examine key application areas of QC within the realm of 6G, drawing insights from existing literature. By dissecting these challenges, our research aims to enhance understanding of the effective integration of QC into 6G networks, offering valuable insights for both industry practitioners and academic scholars. Ultimately, this study underscores the transformative potential of QC within the framework of 6G technology and lays a foundation for further exploration in this rapidly evolving field.

@InProceedings{QSE-NE24p19, author = {Saima Rafi and Muhammad Azeem Akbar and Sajjad Mahmood}, title = {A Conceptual Framework for Quantum Integration Challenges in 6G Technology}, booktitle = {Proc.\ QSE-NE}, publisher = {ACM}, pages = {19--26}, doi = {10.1145/3663531.3664754}, year = {2024}, } Publisher's Version

Integrating Quantum Computing and Blockchain: Building the Foundations of Secure, Efficient 6G Technology
Muhammad Zohaib, Fahad S. Altuwaijri, and Sami Hyrynsalmi
(LUT University, Finland; Qassim University, Saudi Arabia)
This research presents a modern framework that combine quantum computing and blockchain technologies to transform city management in provision for the 6G era. Quantum computing is recognized for its extraordinary processing power, while blockchain is known for its security, privacy, and transparency. these modern technologies can leverage from the 6G technologies capabilities like high speed, low latency, high bandwidth with giant connectivity. The idea of the study comes due to the few comprehensive standards and frameworks that facilitate the effective employment of these advanced technologies in the context of 6G. The proposed Quantum-Blockchain-6G (QBG) Framework main objective to leverage these emerging technologies with 6G capabilities to bridge the gap by providing the proper guidelines and framework to manage city management infrastructure with the help of efficient delivery of the required services. we used mixed method as interviews with expert, systematic literature review and case studies for this study to explore the challenges for integration of blockchain and quantum computing in 6g technology context and developed strategic framework for these challenges and evaluate its impact in the management activities in city management. This research will highlight critical challenges, relate to the quantum computing such as the complexity and cost and blockchain scalability. Furthermore, the study will investigate the integration the threads of advanced cryptographic measurement to mitigate quantum threats. This framework is precisely designed to empower cities management by utilizing the power of these emerging technologies that use 6G to meet the future connectivity demands in city management to make it smarter, faster, secure and trustworthy for the society.

@InProceedings{QSE-NE24p27, author = {Muhammad Zohaib and Fahad S. Altuwaijri and Sami Hyrynsalmi}, title = {Integrating Quantum Computing and Blockchain: Building the Foundations of Secure, Efficient 6G Technology}, booktitle = {Proc.\ QSE-NE}, publisher = {ACM}, pages = {27--34}, doi = {10.1145/3663531.3664755}, year = {2024}, } Publisher's Version

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