Quantum computing for computer scientists

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1. jesuslopJan 2026
   I'd do zero requisites "Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists" by Yanofsky. That is a nice base.
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2. fastneutronAug 2023
   This video, “Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists” is quite approachable: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Riqjdh2oM&pp=ygUeTWljcm9zb2Z...
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3. reidacdcAug 2020
   I am far from an expert, but as I understand it, Shor's factorization algorithm is a gateway to lots of fast crypto, so it's "enabling technology" for a lot of crypto and number-theoretic applications, not an end-point.

   There is also Grover's search algorithm, which can retrieve items from an N-element list with fewer than N operations.

   In the quantum chemistry world, there is work underway to build QC circuits that act as models for natural systems, "natively" capturing the exchange and correlation structure. I've seen model Hamiltonians for small molecules, and this work seems to be in that family also.

   There are also folks who can do linear algebra on sufficiently sparse, well-conditioned matrices[1].

   From what I have read, quantum computers really are very different, a good way to think about them is as super-efficient correlation-finding or correlation-generating machines. Asking "What Von Nuemann algorithm can I put on this?" is the wrong question.

   If you can devise a correlation solution to your problem, then a quantum computer will be a good tool for you.

   To re-disclaim, I am not an expert, I'm a reasonably technical interested bystander. For me, the "Oh, I get it!" book was Yanofsky, "Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists".

   [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_algorithm_for_linear_s...

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4. JoeDaDudeJul 2020
   I found this text helpful:

   Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists by Noson S. Yanofsky and Mirco A. Mannucci

   https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/quantum-computing-for-c...

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5. martinmartinezJul 2020
   Learning Quantum Computing based on skill level (math is the biggest friction point, suggested pdf should save you lots of time) (Recc is personal recommendations, Hi-Recc is look at ASAP)

   # QC Main Ideas

       - Rotate, Compute, Rotate
       - Think in Amplitude Interference
   
   

   # Beginner:

       -(Hi-Recc) Quantum Computing Primer (1.5hr) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Riqjdh2oM
       -(Hi-Recc) Math Primer for Quantum Computing (easiest intro/primer I found on the topic; Highly Recommend   ) : https://cds.cern.ch/record/1522001/files/978-1-4614-6336-8_BookBackMatter.pdf
           -- understand Bra Ket notation [<Bra|Ket>]  (Ket as Column vector, Bra (Row vector) as Complex Conjugate of Ket (denoted as dagger) )
           -- understand Kronecker product  ( for multi-qubit systems) 
       - Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists book - https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Computing-Computer-Scientists-Yanofsky/dp/0521879965
       - Quantum Math Primer (Faculty of Khan) (found a bit hard the first time around, pretty dense) : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdgVBOaXkb9AtG88OsK_c8FDEBDLCC6_9
   
   

   # Intermediate

       -(Recc) Ryan O'Donnell CMU course [is the best if you want to really understand the capabilities of quantum computing, get practice with math, intuition] (algos connection to Fourier, Quantum Complexity Theory, Math best practices, learning multi-quibit systems) 
           -- Quantum Computation and Information at CMU : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm3J0oaFux3YL5qLskC6xQ24JpMwOAeJz
           -- Lecture Notes (use as reference in case video is not clear, or camera shot lags/changes) https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~odonnell/quantum18/  
       - Mermin's Textbook https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1959623.Quantum_Computer_Science
       - Nielsen & Chuang's Textbook https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Computation-Information-10th-Anniversary/dp/1107002176
           -- Nielsen's Lectures https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1826E60FD05B44E4
   
   

   # Advanced

       -(Recc) Scott Aaronson Graduate Course http://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/6/fa14/6.845/materials.html
       -(Recc) Scott Aaronson Papers (really interesting) https://scottaaronson.com/papers/
       - Complexity Zoo - List of Algorithms https://complexityzoo.uwaterloo.ca/Complexity_Zoo
       -(Recc) Machine Learning https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Machine-Learning-Computing-Mining/dp/0128100400
   

   # Reference:

       -(Recc) https://qiskit.org/textbook/preface.html   ToC for different algorithms ( easy to follow, do it for quick basic algo math implementation lookup)
       - 'Suggested texts, notes, and videos to look at' section at bottom of page https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~odonnell/quantum18/
   

   ( I found this skill level format useful when learning Haskell/Functional Programming Paradigm. This is what I found useful for getting started with minimal friction; if more of a textbook learner Nielsen/Chuang textbook or Quantum Computing for Computer Scientist's)
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6. platelmintoApr 2020
   I'm studying Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists [1] - until I found this book, I thought anything covering quantum would be too physics oriented. As the title implies, this book is nothing like that, covering all the mathematics needed (matrices and relevant operations) to then understand various topics within QC ranging from Algorithms to Programming Languages to Cryptography, all in largely self-contained chapters.

   I'm currently working through the Algorithms chapter, which builds up from Deutsch's Algorithm [2] all the way to Shor's Factoring Algorithm [3], but I will definitely end up going through most of the chapters.

   [1] https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Computing-Computer-Scientists...

   [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsch%E2%80%93Jozsa_algorith...

   [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shor%27s_algorithm

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