From Quantum Mechanics to Quantum Software Engineering: A Historical Review

TL;DR

The paper surveys the historical development from foundational questions in quantum physics to practical quantum computing, and analyzes how software engineering needs and practices must evolve to harness quantum hardware. It synthesizes milestones in quantum algorithms, hardware prototypes, and the emergence of Quantum Software Engineering, including the Talavera Manifesto and several lifecycle proposals. The authors discuss current challenges—such as decoherence, error correction, and the NISQ regime—and review empirical studies on tooling, education, and collaboration within QSE. They propose forward-looking research directions (language abstractions, debugging/visualization, distributed quantum computing) to guide the development of a robust QSE discipline and its adoption by software engineers and computer scientists without deep quantum expertise. The work aims to equip the broader software engineering community with historical context and practical guidance to navigate the evolving quantum landscape.

Abstract

Victor Hugo's timeless observation, "Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come", resonates today as Quantum Computing, once only a dream of a physicist, stands at the threshold of reality with the potential to revolutionise the world. To comprehend the surge of attention it commands today, one must delve into the motivations that birthed and nurtured Quantum Computing. While the past of Quantum Computing provides insights into the present, the future could unfold through the lens of Quantum Software Engineering. Quantum Software Engineering, guided by its principles and methodologies investigates the most effective ways to interact with Quantum Computers to unlock their true potential and usher in a new era of possibilities. To gain insight into the present landscape and anticipate the trajectory of Quantum Computing and Quantum Software Engineering, this paper embarks on a journey through their evolution and outlines potential directions for future research. By doing so, we aim to equip readers (ideally software engineers and computer scientists not necessarily with quantum expertise) with the insights necessary to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of Quantum Computing and anticipate the trajectories that lie ahead.