This chapter covers:
- Setting the expectations for Quantum Computing
- Explaining what kinds of problems are suited for Quantum Computers
- Different options for Java Developers to work with Quantum Computing
The amount of books, articles and blog posts about Quantum Computing is increasing. Even if you read only very basic information about Quantum Computing, it is clear that this is not just an incremental enhancement of classical computing. The core concepts of Quantum Computing are fundamentally different, but also its application area is very different. In some areas, Quantum computers are expected to be able to address problems that classical computers are unable to.
Furthermore, since Quantum Computing is based on quantum physics, there is often some mystery associated with it. Quantum physics is not the simplest part of physics, and some aspects of quantum physics are extremely difficult to understand.
All combined, Quantum Computing is often pictured as some mysterious new way of working with data, that will change the world drastically. The latter is true, at least based on what we know at this moment. Many analysts believe it will take between 5 and 10 years before real useful Quantum Computing is possible, and most believe the impact will be huge.