Microsoft Corp.’s efforts to engage the developer community have taken a decidedly futuristic turn.

The company this morning released a software bundle called the Quantum Development Kit that can be used to build applications for quantum computers. It might seem like a somewhat premature move, given that the quantum systems in existence today have limited processing power and are so delicate they must be kept at subfreezing temperatures. But the technology is advancing at breakneck speed.

Quantum computing holds the promise of enabling researchers to tackle complex scientific problems far too difficult for current hardware. The technology’s power stems from the fact that information is represented not with traditional bits, which can only be set to either 1 or 0, but using so-called qubits that have three possible states.

For simplicity’s sake, these states can be regarded as a sort of basic unit of computation. The more states a machine can express, the higher the number of possible combinations, which in turn directly correlates to processing speed. Quantum machines are particularly adept at tasks as decrypting information that involve performing a lot of individual calculations.

Microsoft’s toolkit can help researchers start learning how to harness tomorrow’s quantum computers. The centerpiece of the bundle is Q#, a programming language that was specifically built with the unique characteristics of qubits in mind. It among others has a “teleport” function that takes advantage of the phenomenon known as quantum entanglement to manipulate data.

Users can write their Q# code in Microsoft’s popular Visual Studio development platform. They have access to several of the core features available for conventional languages, including debugging assistance.

Finished programs may be executed in one of two quantum computer simulators included in the toolkit. The first is designed to run directly on a developer’s local machine and can provide up to 32 virtual qubits, while the other supports as many as 40. Microsoft hosts the latter tool on its Azure public cloud since it requires more computational resources than what a regular workstation offers.

Rounding out the Quantum Development Kit is a set of learning resources aimed at making it easier for researchers to master the Q# language. The collection includes documentation, sample programs and libraries that provide ready-made coding building blocks.

IBM, which is currently building a 50-qubit system, also offers tools that enable developers to familiarize themselves with the nuances of quantum computing. Microsoft doesn’t appear to be as far along on the development front, but the company is actively working to build its own quantum computer. 

Image: Microsoft