Unlocking Quantum Potential with Software and Compilers

This conference talk from PLanQC 2025 features Kaitlin Smith from Northwestern University exploring how software and compilers are essential for realizing practical quantum computing. Discover the critical role of quantum software in overcoming scaling bottlenecks and optimizing physical resources. The presentation begins by tracing the evolution of quantum software and providing a comprehensive overview of the quantum compiler pipeline. Then explore state-of-the-art software techniques for quantum error management and promising future directions for the quantum stack. Learn why hardware advances alone are insufficient and how co-designed quantum software enables the seamless integration of quantum technologies into broader applications. Presented at the PLanQC 2025 workshop on January 25, 2025, sponsored by ACM SIGPLAN.