The sector of quantum computing has superior past the extent of error-prone bodily qubits to an period of dependable quantum computation with logical qubits. To proceed making progress towards fault-tolerant quantum machines, advances in each quantum {hardware} and software program are required. Microsoft is dedicated to offering the instruments that builders and scientists must allow purposes on the quantum machines that exist as we speak, in addition to the fault-tolerant machines of the long run.
The Microsoft Quantum Growth Package (QDK) is an open-source developer toolkit for constructing quantum purposes. It offers all the pieces wanted—from simulators to a contemporary programming expertise—for builders to construct and execute quantum code, each domestically and on quantum {hardware}. The QDK is built-in with VS Code and GitHub Copilot that will help you write, take a look at, and execute quantum code. Microsoft’s QDK installs and runs on laptops, and GitHub Copilot makes it fast and simple to get began.
Area libraries and workflows out there with Microsoft’s QDK embody these for error correction and chemistry, with different purposes on the horizon. The included instruments scale back the trouble and experience wanted for researchers to design, take a look at, and implement quantum chemistry purposes or the error correction codes wanted to create logical qubits. Each these instruments and the QDK are open supply and interoperable with the preferred quantum programming languages and frameworks, together with Q#, OpenQASM, Qiskit, and Cirq. The quantum chemistry toolkit helps WSL and Docker help for reproducibility and portability throughout programs.
AI-enabled quantum programming
Microsoft’s QDK is absolutely built-in with VS Code and GitHub Copilot. After putting in the QDK extension from the VS Code Market, GitHub Copilot simplifies using QDK options in VS Code, together with Python and Jupyter integration, circuit rendering, IntelliSense, breakpoint debugging, native simulators, visualizations, histograms, {hardware} submission, and useful resource estimation. With GitHub Copilot and the QDK, programming duties akin to code technology, unit checks, and job submissions are sooner and simpler than ever earlier than.
QDK for scientific purposes
For as we speak’s quantum computer systems to assist clear up complicated scientific issues, these issues should first be simplified and optimized to suit inside {hardware} constraints. Microsoft’s QDK for chemistry offers the superior instruments that builders and quantum researchers want to rework complicated challenges into issues that as we speak’s quantum computer systems can deal with effectively. This toolkit is designed by chemists to make quantum improvement for chemistry purposes extra accessible.
We’re very excited in regards to the launch of Microsoft’s QDK for chemistry. We imagine the modular design of the platform will probably be a real recreation changer for quantum chemistry, enabling scalability, flexibility, and widespread adoption throughout the group.
At Algorithmiq, our long-standing expertise in constructing a computational chemistry platform permits us to totally admire the extent of sophistication that Microsoft’s QDK brings to integrating complicated instruments and workflows, like ours.
We’ve been delighted to have performed a small half in shaping this launch and sit up for seeing the affect it should have on the sphere.
—Guillermo García-Pérez, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-founder, Algorithmiq
Turning complicated quantum chemistry issues into actionable outcomes requires greater than superior quantum algorithms. It requires the seamless integration of classical information preparation, circuit optimization, and publish processing of quantum information. Microsoft’s QDK for chemistry delivers a holistic, end-to-end answer for quantum chemistry, combining best-in-class classical chemistry strategies with state-of-the-art algorithms designed for near-term quantum {hardware}. Environment friendly classical preprocessing strategies scale back downside measurement whereas preserving important chemical accuracy, and chemistry-aware quantum algorithms dramatically scale back circuit depth—shrinking gate counts from hundreds to single digits for sure issues.
We goal to empower quantum improvement, with the instruments and environments researchers already use—akin to VS Code and Python—enhanced with built-in visualization, circuit introspection, and AI-assisted coding capabilities.
QDK for chemistry offers a unified, intuitive interface for molecular modeling and digital construction preparation, supporting a broad vary of quantum chemistry strategies and software program packages. Automated workflows with built-in pipelines for Hamiltonian technology and energetic area choice assist researchers transfer effectively from downside definition to quantum execution.
Native VS Code extensions allow real-time molecular and circuit visualization, making it simpler to iterate, debug, and refine quantum purposes. With help for visualizing molecules and molecular orbitals, rendering quantum circuits with deep-circuit compression, and operating workloads on each QDK simulators and quantum {hardware}, the QDK for chemistry streamlines all the quantum chemistry improvement workflow—from classical preparation to quantum simulation, execution, and postprocessing.
To make sure continued alignment with quickly evolving quantum algorithms, Microsoft’s QDK for chemistry is constructed with adaptability and extensibility in thoughts. It options plug-and-play integration that helps simulations with any chemistry code, quantum language, or algorithmic bundle, minimizing configuration overhead. Because of this, it should proceed to make difficult issues tractable and speed up time to perception because it scales seamlessly towards the subsequent technology of quantum computing.
QDK for error correction
Microsoft has a longstanding heritage of constructing instruments to additional our personal quantum error correction analysis and improvement. QDK for error correction makes these instruments out there for the broader quantum group. The instruments wanted for typical quantum error correction analysis and improvement workflows will now be included in Microsoft’s QDK. These embody open-source modules for characterizing, validating, and debugging encoded quantum applications, customizable encoding and decoding methods that align with goal runtimes, and customizable pocket book samples for widespread use circumstances. Tooling packages will probably be launched over time with full availability anticipated later in 2026.
The QDK is a part of our extremely adaptable platform
The QDK is included as a part of the Microsoft Quantum platform, which brings collectively quantum {hardware}, software program, AI, and high-performance computing to create an end-to-end answer powered by Azure. By correcting the errors in high-quality bodily qubits, our platform permits the dependable computation wanted to understand groundbreaking use circumstances of quantum computing. Now, with new instruments supplied by way of Microsoft’s QDK and supported by GitHub Copilot, the platform permits quantum improvement, chemistry, and error correction, making it much more versatile.
The Microsoft Quantum platform combines our superior qubit-virtualization system with quantum processing items (QPUs) from industry-leading {hardware} suppliers to create logical qubits. It consists of an progressive quantum working system to assist clients handle, management, and monitor the quantum machine whereas integrating with Azure. The platform additionally features a quantum engine that orchestrates quantum {hardware} and error correction.
The Microsoft Quantum platform is being designed to be extremely versatile and integrable with a number of varieties of quantum {hardware}. By making use of our platform to Atom Computing’s neutral-atom qubits, we’re co-designing Magne, the world’s strongest quantum pc. Defining options of Magne will probably be revealed by QuNorth, a Nordic quantum initiative, on the Uncover Magne occasion on January 26, 2026 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Microsoft will assist present the required skilling to make sure that Nordic builders can unlock the total potential of Magne as soon as deployed. This coaching is being developed in partnership with qBraid and a cohort of educational and {industry} companions throughout the Nordics. The coaching supplies, that are tailor-made to utility engineers and error correction researchers, will assist develop regional experience in dependable quantum computing, and place the Nordic quantum ecosystem to set new benchmarks for innovation.
Get began with Microsoft’s QDK as we speak
Matthias Troyer, Microsoft Technical Fellow and CVP, leads quantum computing structure. Former ETH Zurich professor, he’s an APS Fellow and award-winning physicist acknowledged for breakthroughs in computational physics.