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Learn how to set up the Microsoft Quantum Development Kit (QDK) for your environment, so that you can get started with quantum programming. The QDK consists of:
- The Q# programming language
- A set of libraries that abstract complex functionality in Q#
- APIs for Python and .NET languages (C#, F#, and VB.NET) for running quantum programs written in Q#
- Tools to facilitate your development
Dec 04, 2018. I am getting started with Python¶. For new users who want to install a full Python environment for scientific computing and data science, we suggest installing the Anaconda or Canopy Python distributions, which provide Python, IPython and all of its dependences as well as a complete set of open source packages for scientific computing and data science.
Q# programs can run as standalone applications using Visual Studio Code or Visual Studio, through Jupyter Notebooks with the IQ# Jupyter kernel, or paired with a host program written in Python or a .NET language (C#, F#). You can also run Q# programs online using Codespaces, MyBinder.org, or Docker.
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Options for setting up the QDK
You can use the QDK in three ways:
Install the QDK locally
You can develop Q# code in most of your favorites IDEs, as well as integrate Q# with other languages such as Python and .NET (C#, F#).
| VS Code (2019 or later) | Visual Studio (2019 or later) | Jupyter Notebooks | Command line | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows only | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Q# standalone | Install | Install | Install | Install |
| Q# and Python | Install | Install | Install | Install |
| Q# and .NET (C#, F#) | Install | Install | ✖ | Install |
Use the QDK Online
You can also develop Q# code without installing anything locally with these options:
| Resource | Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio Codespaces | A rich online development environment | Requires an Azure subscription and plan |
| Binder | Free online notebook experience | No persistence |
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Use the QDK with Docker
You can use our QDK Docker image in your local Docker installation or in the cloud via any service that supports Docker images, such as ACI.
You can download the IQ# Docker image from https://github.com/microsoft/iqsharp/#using-iq-as-a-container.
You can also use Docker with a Visual Studio Code Remote Development Container to quickly define development environments. For more information about VS Code Development Containers, see https://github.com/microsoft/Quantum/tree/master/.devcontainer.
Next steps
The workflows for each of these setups are described and compared at Ways to run a Q# program.