If you’re a curious sort, you might have wondered what the model is for programming a quantum computer. By comparison, traditional computing using switches which are on or off (0 or 1) are now a common model and nearly anyone can understand how to at least apply digital technologies.
Quantum computing, using quantum bits or qubits, has 0, 1, and super position is a completely different animal. Instead of getting an answer to one’s query, a range of answers are provided with some degree of certainty that the answer posed is correct. It’s colloquially called “finding the lowest point in a vast landscape.” This requires a completely different mindset to work with these machines and to interpret the results of the programming experience.
D-Wave Systems is the leader in commercial quantum computing hardware and software. Recently, I read one of their documents about the programming model for quantum computing and it’s thick, but very interesting.