Build and Run Real Quantum Circuits
This is a hands-on course for people who want to actually program quantum computers, not just understand them conceptually. Using open-source SDKs, you will build and run real quantum circuits, work with both simulators and real hardware, learn noise and error mitigation in practice, and develop the engineering habits that make quantum code maintainable. The course finishes with running your own circuit on real quantum hardware.
Who Should Take This Course
Developers, software engineers, researchers, and technical professionals who want hands-on quantum programming experience. Programming experience helpful; quantum physics background not required.
What You Will Learn
This course provides a rigorous, vendor-independent understanding of its subject, taught with the same evidence-based discipline applied across the Quantum Academy curriculum: what the technology does today, what it will plausibly do next, and what that means for your work.
Course Outline
Module 1 — Getting Started with Quantum SDKs
Setting up a quantum development environment. Open-source SDKs and frameworks. Your first quantum circuit. Running on a simulator. Understanding the quantum programming model.
Module 2 — Core Algorithms in Practice
Implementing fundamental quantum algorithms. Building circuits for superposition, entanglement, and interference. Implementing Grover’s search and quantum Fourier transform. Understanding what works and what the limitations are.
Module 3 — Simulators Versus Hardware
The difference between simulators and real quantum hardware. Accessing real quantum processors through the cloud. Understanding hardware constraints: connectivity, gate fidelity, and coherence time. Mapping circuits to real hardware topologies.
Module 4 — Noise and Error Mitigation
Working with noisy quantum hardware. Error mitigation techniques in practice. Measurement error mitigation. Zero-noise extrapolation. Realistic expectations for current hardware results.
Module 5 — Engineering Maintainable Quantum Code
Software engineering practices for quantum code. Circuit optimization and transpilation. Testing quantum programs. Building reusable quantum software components. Running your capstone circuit on real hardware.
Prerequisites
None unless otherwise noted. These courses are designed to be accessible to motivated professionals without a physics background.
Certificate of Completion
Upon completion, you will receive a Quantum Academy certificate of completion.