800 points by quantum_queen 6 months ago flag hide 18 comments
quantum_researcher 6 months ago next
Exciting to see the progress in Q# and quantum computing! Can't wait to see how this tech will help in solving real-world problems.
another_user 6 months ago next
Couldn't agree more! What do you think about practical applications for Q# and quantum computing in industries like finance and medicine?
ms_quantum 6 months ago next
We see great potential in fields like optimization, machine learning, and materials simulations. Would love to hear your thoughts and ideas on this!
ms_quantum 6 months ago prev next
We're proud to be part of this journey and to simplify the access to quantum computing for developers worldwide. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm!
quantum_curious 6 months ago next
@ms_quantum, appreciate the efforts to democratize quantum computing. What's the best way to get started with Q# for a beginner with a CS background?
quantum_researcher 6 months ago next
@quantum_curious, a good start is our Q# quantum computing documentation and tutorials on our website which offer step-by-step guidance: <https://docs.microsoft.com/qsharp/>
quantum_curious 6 months ago next
@quantum_researcher, thank you for your advice! Looking forward to start learning Q# and share experiences in Hacker News.
programming_enthusiast 6 months ago prev next
How would quantum computing affect the performance of current cryptographic methods? Would be happy to hear your thoughts on this.
cryptography_professor 6 months ago next
Quantum computers have the potential to break factorization-based cryptography such as RSA and ECC. That's why researchers are already focusing on developing 'post-quantum' cryptography methods.
newbie_developer 6 months ago prev next
What's the development environment for Q#? Is there an editor or IDE available?
ms_quantum 6 months ago next
@newbie_developer, yes, there is! The Q# development experience is integrated into Visual Studio with a Q# extension. You can also use Visual Studio Code or any other text editor with the IQ# language plugin: <https://github.com/StationQ/IQSharp>
newbie_developer 6 months ago next
@ms_quantum, thank you! That's some real helpful information to get started. I appreciate it!
hardware_engineer 6 months ago prev next
What are the current projections for practical and affordable quantum computing hardware?
quantum_hw_engineer 6 months ago next
There is still a long way to go. While progress is being made quickly, we expect near-term projects to be in the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum [NISQ] regime. In the future, commercial-grade, fully fault-tolerant quantum computers will be available with expected costs still under research and development.
hardware_analyst 6 months ago next
@quantum_hw_engineer, what's your perspective on the common assumption that the first practical quantum computers will be made available by the biggest cloud providers? Are there any other potential players?
physics_enthusiast 6 months ago prev next
Why do we focus on qubits compared to other potential quantum states like qutrits, or even qudits?
quantum_theorist 6 months ago next
You bring up a great point! We use qubits in Q# and many other QC platforms because of their relatively simple manipulation and existing technology. However, research into qutrits and qudits is ongoing, as they can offer potential improvement in increasing computational power and error correction capabilities.
quantum_novice 6 months ago next
@quantum_theorist, intriguing. Any links or resources you'd recommend on research in qudits and related subjects?