[Paper Review] Quantum Software Development Lifecycle

Benjamin Weder, Johanna Barzen+2 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jun 17, 2021

Cloud Computing and Resource Management4 citations

TL;DR

This paper proposes an integrated Quantum Software Development Lifecycle (QS-SDLC) that unifies the development of quantum, classical, and workflow components in hybrid quantum applications. By analyzing key software artifacts and their interconnections, the authors establish a cohesive lifecycle framework to guide the design, implementation, and orchestration of end-to-end quantum applications, addressing gaps in existing isolated lifecycles for quantum or classical code alone.

ABSTRACT

With recent advances in the development of more powerful quantum computers, the research area of quantum software engineering is emerging, having the goal to provide concepts, principles, and guidelines to develop high-quality quantum applications. In classical software engineering, lifecycles are used to document the process of designing, implementing, maintaining, analyzing, and adapting software. Such lifecycles provide a common understanding of how to develop and operate an application, which is especially important due to the interdisciplinary nature of quantum computing. Since today`s quantum applications are, in most cases, hybrid, consisting of quantum and classical programs, the lifecycle for quantum applications must involve the development of both kinds of programs. However, the existing lifecycles only target the development of quantum or classical programs in isolation. Additionally, the various programs must be orchestrated, e.g., using workflows. Thus, the development of quantum applications also incorporates the workflow lifecycle. In this chapter, we analyze the software artifacts usually comprising a quantum application and present their corresponding lifecycles. Furthermore, we identify the points of connection between the various lifecycles and integrate them into the overall quantum software development lifecycle. Therefore, the integrated lifecycle serves as a basis for the development and execution of hybrid quantum applications.

Motivation & Objective

• Address the lack of a unified development lifecycle for hybrid quantum applications combining classical and quantum programs.
• Recognize that current lifecycles treat quantum and classical development in isolation, missing critical integration points.
• Integrate the workflow lifecycle to manage orchestration of quantum and classical components in hybrid applications.
• Provide a common framework to standardize development across the interdisciplinary field of quantum software engineering.
• Establish a foundation for scalable, maintainable, and high-quality quantum application development through lifecycle standardization.

Proposed method

• Analyze core software artifacts in quantum applications, including quantum circuits, classical control code, and orchestration workflows.
• Define separate lifecycles for quantum programs, classical programs, and workflows based on established software engineering principles.
• Identify and formalize the points of integration between the three lifecycles, particularly at interfaces and data flows.
• Propose a unified QS-SDLC model that coordinates the phases of design, implementation, testing, and maintenance across all components.
• Use a layered architecture to represent the lifecycle stages, emphasizing collaboration between quantum and classical development teams.
• Apply principles from classical software engineering to adapt lifecycle practices to the unique constraints of quantum computing.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How can the development of hybrid quantum applications be systematically structured across quantum, classical, and workflow components?
• RQ2 What are the key integration points between quantum, classical, and workflow lifecycles in quantum application development?
• RQ3 How can existing software engineering lifecycle models be adapted to accommodate the unique characteristics of quantum programs?
• RQ4 What role does workflow orchestration play in the lifecycle of quantum applications, and how should it be integrated?
• RQ5 How can a unified lifecycle model improve the quality, maintainability, and scalability of quantum software?

Key findings

• The proposed QS-SDLC integrates quantum, classical, and workflow lifecycles into a single, cohesive framework for hybrid quantum application development.
• The framework enables systematic management of dependencies and interactions between quantum circuits, classical control logic, and orchestration workflows.
• The lifecycle model supports end-to-end development, from design through deployment, with clear phases for testing and maintenance.
• The integration of workflow lifecycles ensures proper orchestration of quantum and classical components, which is critical for hybrid application execution.
• The model provides a common foundation for interdisciplinary collaboration, improving clarity and consistency in quantum software engineering.
• The approach addresses a key gap in current practices by unifying isolated lifecycles into a single, standardized development process for quantum applications.