Compatibility Matrix¶
This project prioritizes free, local, credential-free simulator workflows. The matrix below documents the supported Python versions, optional SDK extras, and runtime expectations for the current package line.
Python Support¶
| Python | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3.11 | Supported | Main local development and optional-backend smoke target |
| 3.12 | Supported | CI test, lint, build, and docs target |
| 3.13 | Not claimed | Not part of the current CI matrix |
Backend and SDK Compatibility¶
| Integration | Extra | Role | Account or payment required | Local runtime requirement | CI coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cirq | cirq |
Execution backend | No | Python package only | Main CI and smoke workflow; auditable with sdk-parity, semantic-audit, noise-audit, compile-audit, and roundtrip-audit |
| PennyLane | pennylane |
Execution backend | No | Python package only | Optional backend smoke |
| Amazon Braket SDK | braket |
LocalSimulator execution backend | No for LocalSimulator |
Python package only | Optional backend smoke |
| Qiskit Aer | qiskit |
Execution backend | No | Python package only | Optional backend smoke |
| QuTiP | qutip |
Execution backend | No | Python package only | Optional backend smoke |
| pytket | tket |
Structural analysis and drawing | No | Python package only | Main CI install |
| CUDA-Q | cudaq |
Execution backend | No for local simulator use | Platform-sensitive Python package | Experimental optional smoke |
| pyQuil QVM | pyquil |
Execution backend | No for local QVM use | Python package plus local qvm and quilc executables |
Package smoke in CI; external QVM runtime skipped unless available |
| qBraid | qbraid |
Discovery only | Not used for execution | Python package only | Dependency metadata only |
| Q# / QDK | qsharp |
Discovery only | Not used for execution | Python package only | Dependency metadata only |
| Notebook helpers | notebooks |
Tutorial notebooks | No | Python packages only | Not executed in CI |
| Documentation tooling | docs |
Pages build and link validation | No | Python packages only | Main CI docs validation |
Extras Policy¶
- The base package has no required quantum SDK dependencies.
- Use
quantum-backend-bench[cirq]for the fastest public first run. - Use
quantum-backend-bench[all]for the practical local Python-only comparison stack. This intentionally excludes CUDA-Q and pyQuil because they are heavier or depend on external local runtime support. - Use
quantum-backend-bench[full]only when explicitly testing every optional Python SDK extra.
Backend Scope¶
The default project scope is local simulator benchmarking. SDKs that require cloud accounts, billing, remote queues, or private provider services should not be part of the default onboarding path. They may be considered later as clearly optional provider adapters if the local, free workflow remains the primary experience.
Validation Commands¶
quantum-bench doctor
quantum-bench compatibility
quantum-bench sdk-parity
quantum-bench semantic-audit --backends cirq qiskit_aer
quantum-bench compile-audit --backends cirq qiskit_aer
quantum-bench roundtrip-audit --include-hamiltonian --include-workflow
quantum-bench noise-audit
quantum-bench validate
quantum-bench run ghz --backend cirq --n-qubits 3 --shots 128 --summary
quantum-bench suite smoke --backends cirq --shots 128 --summary
For reproducible example artifacts from the Cirq smoke path, see
examples/reference_results/cirq_smoke_2026-06-03/.