Despite recent advances in quantum programming tools, there are two major challenges facing quantum software developers. First, there is an understandable fear of betting on a platform or language that ends up being discontinued. Second, quantum computer scientists need to understand cur­rent software engineering principles and techniques, or they will spend too much time reinventing the wheel.

This Advisor asserts that there is no “right” org chart for depicting an organization’s structure. There are only charts fulfilling different purposes, and you need to treat them within the constraints of that purpose.

In recent years, researchers have turned to radically different computing paradigms, such as quantum computing, molecular computing, and nature-inspired computing. Of these, the most promising and advanced is quantum computing, based on the principles of quantum mechanics. This issue of Cutter Business Technology Journal (CBTJ) includes five articles that, together, provide an overview of quantum computing essentials.

Programmers routinely test their work as they write code, running programs to ensure they’re behaving as expected. But software today is significantly more complex than ever before. In this Executive Update we consider two questions about testing: (1) how do we know how best to perform that testing, and (2) how much testing is enough?

Muhammad Usman examines ongoing developments in quantum computing: hardware, simulations and error correction, algorithms and applications, and post-quantum secure communication. He also outlines anticipated progress in the quantum computing landscape and looks at the notion of quantum supremacy.

Mario Piattini outlines various quantum computing programming languages and the requirements of quantum software development environments. He also introduces quantum software engineering, identifies two of its key challenges, and discusses how they can be addressed. Piattini emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to quantum hardware and software R&D, quantum software education and training, and collaboration between industry and academia. As an example of such a collaboration, he describes an initiative called "aQuantum."

Threats to data and information security will continue to be a key concern in the digital era ahead. Quantum computing is both a solution to security and, in a distant future, a threat to it. Claudio Lima discusses the impact of quantum computing on cybersecurity and blockchain. He outlines potential threats to today's cryptography posed by quantum computing and highlights some emerging quantum cryptographic techniques.

Despite the progress in quantum computing and promising applications in several key sectors, many professionals and IT business executives are skeptical about its prospects and are not paying much attention to it. "Quantum computing is going to make a reality of the impossible sooner or later ... it very much seems like a question of time," observes Cutter Senior Consultant James Mitchell. He argues that it is imperative for IT professionals and executives to be aware of these types of upcoming computing capabilities and be prepared to embrace them.