Microsoft's Q# quantum programming language out now in preview
Microsoft today launched a preview version of a new programming language for quantum computing called Q#. The industry giant also launched a quantum simulator that developers can use to test and debug their quantum algorithms.
The language and simulator were announced in September. The then-unnamed language was intended to bring traditional programming concepts—functions, variables, and branches, along with a syntax-highlighted development environment complete with quantum debugger—to quantum computing, a field that has hitherto built algorithms from wiring up logic gates. Microsoft's hope is that this selection of tools, along with the training material and documentation, will open up quantum computing to more than just physicists.
I'll hold out for QuBasic.
Previously: Microsoft is Developing a Quantum Computing Programming Language
Related Stories
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/09/microsoft-quantum-toolkit/
At its Ignite conference today, Microsoft announced its moves to embrace the next big thing in computing: quantum computing. Later this year, Microsoft will release a new quantum computing programming language, with full Visual Studio integration, along with a quantum computing simulator. With these, developers will be able to both develop and debug quantum programs implementing quantum algorithms.
[...] Microsoft's quantum programming language—as yet unnamed—offers a more familiar look to programming quantum computers, borrowing elements from C#, Python, and F#. Developers will still need to use and understand quantum logic gates and their operations, but they'll be able to use them to write functions, with variables and branches and other typical constructs.
[...] It will have quite significant memory requirements. The local version will offer up to 32 qubits, but to do this will require 32GB of RAM. Each additional qubit doubles the amount of memory required. The Azure version will scale up to 40 qubits.
Also at Fossbytes.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @04:47PM (1 child)
Q-sharp? Maybe it will be as good as J-sharp. Did they ever release a Python-sharp, or maybe an MSBASIC-sharp?
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Wednesday December 13 2017, @07:40AM
Some anonymous coward already predicted that name. [soylentnews.org]
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday December 12 2017, @07:42PM (3 children)
That's a spin not recognized by Standard Model.
Smooth non-commutative operators persists inside Microsoft, common sense is buried by the heavy entanglement caused hype.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @08:02PM (2 children)
The quantum debugger means that you don't find out if your code has any bugs until you start looking for them.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Tuesday December 12 2017, @10:37PM
It also means Microsoft is both brain-dead and zombie-alive at the same time!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 13 2017, @08:18AM
Wouldn't it be the other way around? You know there is a bug, because the output is wrong, but as soon as you start looking for it, the quantum state collapses, and the bug disappears.
"The bug only happens in production".
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @10:32PM
(deadcat(livecat cat cat(deadcat livecat())) cat )