What are the recent advances in the field of quantum computing and high-performance computing? And what Python tools can you use to develop programs that run on quantum computers? This week on the show, Real Python author Negar Vahid discusses her tutorial, “Quantum Computing Basics With Qiskit.”

Negar digs into the fundamentals of quantum computers, describing qubits, superposition, entanglement, and interference. We discuss the concept of quantum advantage and the fields of exploration where quantum computing promises speed-ups over classical computers. She also shares tools for designing quantum circuits with Python.

Course Spotlight: Profiling Performance in Python

Learn to profile Python programs with built-in and popular third-party tools, and turn performance insights into faster code.

Topics:

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:31 – Writing for Real Python
00:02:37 – What drew you to quantum computing?
00:04:27 – What is quantum advantage?
00:07:10 – Quantum computing basics article
00:09:32 – Linear algebra
00:10:32 – What is a quantum computer?
00:14:52 – Superconducting devices
00:17:29 – Looking for ways to advance computing
00:19:17 – Superposition of qubits and entanglement
00:22:43 – Video Course Spotlight
00:24:27 – Potential areas of research
00:26:45 – IBM quantum computing & Qiskit
00:29:43 – Describing superposition as a spinning coin
00:30:41 – Other types of quantum computers
00:32:08 – Qiskit Global Summer School 2025
00:32:48 – Qiskit Advocate
00:33:49 – What do you see in the near future?
00:37:42 – What are the type of HPCs?
00:40:05 – Additional resources to learn more
00:43:32 – Answering to skeptics
00:47:51 – What are you excited about in the world of Python?
00:48:24 – What do you want to learn next?
00:49:04 – What’s the best way to follow your work online?
00:49:25 – Thanks and goodbye

Show Links:

Level up your Python skills with our expert-led courses:

Support the podcast & join our community of Pythonistas

Exploring Quantum Computing & Python Frameworks

The Real Python Podcast

Superposition Analogy and PennyLane

The AI-powered Podcast Player