Alongside the learning platform, Microsoft is offering a new course focused on quantum computing. Imaginatively titled “Quantum Computing”, the course emphasizes the learning of programming in the Q# language. Microsoft says self-learning students can go to Brilliant.org and get started with quantum. Entirely web based, the course has been developed to not stifle students, allowing them to create quantum-based algorithms on the move. Making quantum development easier was clearly Microsoft’s goal with the course. With that in mind, a drag-and-drop system allows basic operations to be undertaken efficiently. This means students can avoid advanced mathematics and focus on learning quantum computing.
Availability
In its announcement, Microsoft highlighted why Q# is becoming an important resource: “Q# also provides a powerful way to quickly prototype quantum programs in tandem with a classical programming environment. Using Q#’s new Python integration within the Brilliant course, students call Python to implement the classical side of an algorithm and call Q# to run the quantum side—all in a single coding environment in their browser. Q#’s integration with Python provides a glimpse into the future of quantum computing: a classical computer that can leverage quantum hardware for particular problems, in much the same way that we currently use GPUs to speed up the solutions of ray tracing or machine learning problems.” To access the first two volumes of the course, users need to be members of Brilliant for a “limited” period, although that timeframe is not detailed. Either way, you can check out the course and related information here.
