Write a set of quantum computing command-line utilities following the UNIX Philosophy

[icepolarizer]

Abstract

Large toolboxes are useful. It helps beginners to learn, and experts to respond in many situations. However, sometimes our toolkit just requires some minimalism. If the program is small and it works well with other programs, it can be a building block of many other brilliant programs.

My thoughts about minimal and modular quantum software

Edit: I just made an example project. Quantum Password Generator

Description

Write a small but useful quantum computing commandline tool. Almost every kinds of computing started from that. Sometimes, less is more.

"The Unix philosophy, originated by Ken Thompson, is a set of cultural norms and philosophical approaches to minimalist, modular software development."

Here's the UNIX Philosophy:

1. Make each program do one thing well. To do a new job, build afresh rather than complicate old programs by adding new "features".
2. Expect the output of every program to become the input to another, as yet unknown, program. Don't clutter output with extraneous information. Avoid stringently columnar or binary input formats. Don't insist on interactive input.
3. Design and build software, even operating systems, to be tried early, ideally within weeks. Don't hesitate to throw away the clumsy parts and rebuild them.
4. Use tools in preference to unskilled help to lighten a programming task, even if you have to detour to build the tools and expect to throw some of them out after you've finished using them.

TL;DR

• Write programs that do one thing and do it well.
• Write programs to work together.
• Write programs to handle text streams, because that is a universal interface.

Members

• @githubhandle
• @githubhandle - Slack: @slackhandle email: example@example.com
• Qiskit Coach: @icepolarizer

Deliverable

Set of commandline utilities related to quantum computing, mostly for linux and unix-based systems.

GitHub repo

[nonhermitian]

I am not sure how this fits within the scope of Qiskit? Are you advocating for modularizing a particular piece of Qiskit?

[0sophy1]

I think Samuel's idea is pretty interesting :) I never thought of this kind of idea when I was an undergraduate freshman. I think Samuel's project will also be a good motivator for quantum computing beginners who are good at coding at a similar age with Samuel. As we can see, in this event, we have a lot of quantum computing beginners and developers. I hope you understand that we are trying hard for them.

[nonhermitian]

I am just trying to understand what is proposed here. Are these independent command line tools? If so, then not sure if they are inline with a "Qiskit" hackathon. If they are calling Qiskit functionality then it seems like a reasonable proposal. However, in the latter case, I am not sure if I follow how that aligns with the proposed objectives?

[icepolarizer]

I understand your concern. Here's my example.
Basically, I'm just suggesting some developers to write short(and useless in some perspective)programs frequently, so that we can see what is possible.

[nonhermitian]

Thanks for the example. Looks interesting, and is definitely in scope.

[icepolarizer]

Thanks. I like your profile pic, by the way.

[echo724]

Our team want to join this idea!
Here are our team members (Github ID/Slack Name)
echo724/Eunchan Cho
jwlk / KIM BOSEOK
lonj7798 / jaewon
TaehyukKo/TaehyukKo

[starktech23]

Okay @echo724 if Team "echo Qiskit" wants to take this idea, please add details of this idea to your team dashboard on HackerEarth and Save Draft for now.

[starktech23]

Select "Submit Idea" only if you're absolutely sure about the team composition and project idea. We recommend waiting till the Project Pitching session to discuss more about the project today :)

[makotonakai]

Hello I'm Makoto Nakai, (Slack:Makoto Nakai, GitHub: MakotoNakai) and I'm a coach (Qiskit Advocate) from Japan.
Would you mind if I join in this team?

[icepolarizer]

Sure! Welcome :)

[veenaiyuri]

Hi @echo724 ! Can you please remind @JWLK, @ionj7798 and @TaehyukKo to accept the invite link I sent them? I cannot add them unless they accept. https://github.com/qiskit-community/qiskit-hackathon-korea-21/invitations