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Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists

Microsoft Research · talk · Watch on YouTube

Quantum computing

What it is

An 88-minute Microsoft Research talk that explains how quantum computers beat classical ones using basic linear algebra, qubits, superposition and gates. It works through the Deutsch oracle problem and ends with entanglement, teleportation and a live demo.

Why Hacker News recommends it

It is HN's most frequently recommended starting point for quantum computing because it avoids pop-science hand-waving and needs only basic linear algebra.

  • 12 people recommended it
  • 13 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2018, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “really hammered it home for me. It goes slowly”

    Slow, math-based explanation that made quantum computing click.

    mbo, 2020-04 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: What scientific phenomenon do you wish someone would explain better?”

  2. “This video is the simplest explanation that I have found for Quantum Computing”

    Simplest explanation of quantum computing without pop-science nonsense.

    DarmokJalad1701, 2024-11 · Strong recommendation · in “AlphaQubit: AI to identify errors in Quantum Computers”

  3. “Here is a video of a researcher at Microsoft Quantum lecturing on this”

    Lecture on the basics of how a quantum computer works.

    whytai, 2020-04 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: What scientific phenomenon do you wish someone would explain better?”

  4. “These two videos in particular helped me get started”

    One of two videos that helped explain how to compute with a quantum computer.

    stewdio, 2020-04 · Recommendation · in “Show HN: Quantum JavaScript”

  5. “Quantum Computing Primer (1.5hr)”

    Quantum computing primer listed among beginner resources.

    martinmartinez, 2020-07 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: Resources to start learning about quantum computing?”

  6. “a short 1.5 hour lecture on quantum computing aimed specifically at software engineers & computer scientists, which has proven popular”

    Short lecture aimed at software engineers and computer scientists.

    ahelwer, 2020-11 · Recommendation · in “CERN Online introductory lectures on quantum computing from 6 November”

  7. “I think this talk is an excellent 'foot in the door' intro.”

    Excellent foot-in-the-door intro with a solid foundation and jargon.

    quaintquant, 2022-02 · Recommendation · in “Hello Many Worlds in Seven Quantum Languages (2021)”

  8. “It goes deeper than the pop-sci articles about "doing all combinations at once" but remains accessible”

    Accessible overview for coders covering entanglement and some Q# code.

    drewrv, 2022-03 · Recommendation · in “Basic Quantum Algorithms”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: qubits, linear algebra, deutsch oracle, quantum gates, entanglement, q#

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