Getting Started

Course Modules

Use the table below to find a course module. If you are not sure whether you have all the needed background knowledge, start with Complex Numbers. To jump right into quantum computing fundamentals, go to Qubits.

Background Math	Classical Computing	Qubits and Quantum Gates	Multi-Qubit Systems	Quantum Circuits	Quantum Protocols	Quantum Algorithms	Quantum Error Correction	Execution on Quantum Computers
Complex Numbers	Digital Information	Qubits	Qubit Registers	Complex Superpositions	Quantum Interference	Deutsch-Jozsa Algorithm	Bit-Flip Error Correction	Intro to Qiskit
Vectors	Endianness	The Bloch Sphere	Multi-Qubit Gates	Quantum Circuit Diagrams	Superdense Coding	Simon's Algorithm	Steane ECC	Cloud-Based Machines
Matrices	Digital Logic	Single-Qubit Gates		The Quirk Tool		Grover's Algorithm		Resource Estimation and Practicality Assessment
Bra-ket and Tensor Notation	Low-level Programming	Intro to Q#				Quantum Fourier Transform		Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
	High-level Programming	Lab Tutorial: Single-Qubit Gates				Shor's Algorithm
	Visual Studio

Lab Exercises

Download

Installation

• Install Visual Studio Community with the .NET Core cross-platform development workload enabled

• Install the Microsoft Quantum Development Kit extension for Visual Studio

• Open Intro to Quantum Software Development.sln in Visual Studio

Visual Studio Code

Using Windows 10 or 11:

• Download .NET 6.0 SDK for Windows (x64).
• Download VS Code for Windows:
• Install the Quantum Development Kit extension
• Install the C# extension

• Install the .NET Core Test Explorer extension

• Creating and running a new Q# project

Using Windows 10 or 11 + Windows Subsystem for Linux (advanced):

• Install Linux on windows with WSL
• Download Ubuntu for Windows (20.04 LTS should work best) from the Microsoft Store
• Open Ubuntu, create profile, and paste the following into the terminal:

  sudo apt-get update; \
  sudo apt-get install -y apt-transport-https && \
  sudo apt-get update && \
  sudo apt-get install -y dotnet-sdk-6.0=6.0.300-1
  

• Download VS Code for Windows (NOT Linux!!):

• Install the Remote Development Kit for VS Code

• On the bottom left, a new green icon should be visible. Click this, then select Remote-WSL: New Window to open your Linux terminal in VS Code.

• Now that VS Code is using your Ubuntu terminal, install all other extensions on the 'WSL' version of your VS Code.
  • Install the Quantum Development Kit extension
  • Install the C# extension
  • Install the .NET Core Test Explorer extension
• Creating and running a new Q# project

Using MacOS with x64 chip:

• Make sure the relevant terminal packages are updated:
  • Open the terminal
  • Run the following commands
    • sudo softwareupdate -i -a
    • xcode-select --install
• Download .NET 6.0 SDK for macOS (x64):
• Download VS Code for macOS:
• Install the Quantum Development Kit extension
• Install the C# extension

• Install the .NET Core Test Explorer extension

• Creating and running a new Q# project

Using any OS with a Docker container

• Install Docker Desktop for Windows/Mac

• If you are using WSL 2 on Windows, to ensure the WSL 2 back-end is enabled: Right-click on the Docker taskbar item and select Settings. Check Use the WSL 2 based engine and verify your distribution is enabled under Resources > WSL Integration.

• When not using the WSL 2 back-end, right-click on the Docker task bar item, select Settings and update Resources > File Sharing with any locations your source code is kept. See tips and tricks for troubleshooting.

• Download VS Code for your OS:

• Install the Remote Development Kit for VS Code

• On the bottom left, a new green icon should be visible. Click this, then select 'Open Folder in Container' to open VS Code in a development container that will use Ubuntu and has dotnet already installed.

• Now that VS Code is using your container, install all other extensions on the container version of VS Code, unless recommended otherwise.

  • Install the Quantum Development Kit extension
  • Install the C# extension
  • Install the .NET Core Test Explorer extension

To create and run a new Q# project in VS Code, follow the steps here. Linked here are more detailed use instructions for Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code.

Use

Each exercise consists of functions or operations that have not been implemented. The project includes unit tests that validate whether the implementation is correct. Use the Test Explorer to see which exercises have been completed successfully. The first time you open the solution, pull up the Test Explorer pane using the toolbar option Test > Test Explorer, and then click the green Run All Tests In View button. After that, you can expand the tree and run tests individually. You can see the output of a selected test by clicking the Open additional output for this result link.

See the Visual Studio module for info on debugging.

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Last update: July 8, 2022