Tool for Automatically Translating Classical Algorithms to Quantum Equivalents

[dkrizhanovskyi]

What should we add?

I propose the development of a tool in Qiskit that can automatically convert classical algorithms into their quantum equivalents. This tool would greatly benefit developers by enabling quick prototyping and testing, allowing them to compare the performance and efficiency of algorithms in both classical and quantum implementations. For instance, sorting and search algorithms, which are traditionally executed on classical computers, could be transformed and tested on quantum computers using this tool.

Key Features of the Tool:

1. Automatic Translation: The tool will analyze classical algorithm code and automatically generate the corresponding quantum circuit using well-known quantum algorithms and techniques.

2. Optimization for Quantum Processors: After translation, the tool will be capable of optimizing the quantum circuit for specific quantum processors, considering their unique characteristics and limitations.

3. Performance Comparison Interface: The tool will provide an interface that allows users to execute both the classical and quantum versions of the algorithm simultaneously, enabling a direct comparison of metrics such as execution time, resource consumption, and overall efficiency.

Use Cases:

• Data Sorting: Translating classical sorting algorithms (e.g., quicksort) into quantum versions (e.g., using Grover's algorithm for search).
• Database Search: Converting search algorithms with linear or binary complexity into quantum analogs with logarithmic or even constant complexity.
• Encryption and Decryption: Adapting classical encryption algorithms to leverage quantum properties such as entanglement and superposition.

Conclusion:

This tool will significantly simplify the transition from classical to quantum computing for a wide range of tasks, which is especially important as quantum technologies continue to advance rapidly. By making quantum computing more accessible and understandable to developers, this tool will help drive interest in quantum computing and increase the number of applications that utilize quantum advantages.

### Tasks

[frankharkins]

You might be interested in https://github.com/dakk/qlasskit, which handles a small part of this.

[jakelishman]

Thanks for the link Frank. In general, this kind of feature request would be a huge expansion of the scope of the Qiskit SDK, though, and that's not a direction we're prepared to take for the core library yet. If you're interested in it, absolutely feel free to make your own package based on those ideas.

I'll close this issue, because there's no amount of rescoping of this issue that could make it suitable for main-library inclusion any time soon, but that's not to say it's not interesting, nor that you shouldn't pursue it yourself.