Quantum Computing for Software Engineering: Prospects

Abstract: Quantum computers (QCs) are maturing. When QCs are powerful enough, they may be able to handle problems in chemistry, physics, and finance that are not classically solvable. However, the applicability of quantum algorithms to speed up Software Engineering (SE) tasks has not been explored. We examine eight groups of quantum algorithms that may accelerate SE tasks across the different phases of SE and sketch potential opportunities and challenges.