🤖 AI Summary
Current quantum software development overly emphasizes algorithms while neglecting architectural design, thereby limiting the scalability and engineering maturity of hybrid quantum-classical systems. To address this gap, this work proposes the Quantum Software Architecture Framework (QSAF), which for the first time categorizes 34 quantum circuit primitives by functionality and abstracts them into reusable architectural components with explicit interfaces and design constraints. QSAF establishes a multi-level abstraction hierarchy spanning from quantum gates to system-level constructs. By incorporating non-functional properties—such as circuit depth, error sensitivity, and information flow—to characterize component behavior, QSAF enables structured decomposition and optimization of hybrid workflows like variational quantum algorithms, significantly enhancing the rigor, modularity, and development efficiency of quantum system design.
📝 Abstract
Quantum software development has largely focused on algorithms, with limited attention to software architecture. As computing moves toward hybrid quantum-classical systems, this gap limits scalability, reusability, and engineering rigor.
This study introduces a component-based quantum software architecture framework (QSAF) for hybrid quantum-classical software systems, enabling developers to transition from circuit-level design to system-level reasoning. We identified 34 reusable quantum circuit primitives across seven functional categories and reinterpreted them as architectural components with explicit interfaces and design-relevant constraints. These components are further characterized using non-functional dimensions such as circuit depth, error sensitivity, and information flow, enabling a structured analysis of design trade-offs.
The proposed QSAF framework establishes a multi-level abstraction hierarchy linking quantum gates, circuit primitives, algorithmic structures, and hybrid system architectures. Through this approach, common workflows, particularly hybrid quantum-classical workflows such as variational quantum algorithms, can be systematically decomposed, compared, and optimized.
By making the architectural structure and trade-offs explicit, this study provides a foundation for quantum software engineering, supporting modular design, reuse, and informed architectural decision-making in quantum application development.