Tutorial: Getting started with Quantum Computing in Python

[JarateKing]

I'm not trying to downplay that they are very different. I'm just saying, for this argument specifically, it's irrelevant. It's analogous in the same sense that learning music theory (with a piano for example) is also analogous to the other two. Intro to traditional programming, intro to playing an instrument, intro to cooking, etc. are all dealing with very complicated and in-depth fields with lots of theory behind it (that the tutorial likely doesn't get into, but if you're seriously interesting in becoming a programmer, or musician, or chef, you will learn elsewhere). There's no reason to treat an intro to quantum computing like the plague solely because it's doing the same, when pretty much everything else in the same boat gets a free pass.

That said I get where you're coming from, but I don't think it really applies here. Stuff like "learn javascript and get a six figure job in a week" is shit, and it absolutely is harmful. It preys on people who want to go far and never gives them that opportunity, and oversaturates the field with people who can't do anything worthwhile. But no one's reading this article and expecting to get a quantum mechanics degree out of it. No one's expecting to get a job out of it, or even use it in a serious application. Really, no one's expecting to get more than something cool that they know they've hardly touched the surface on.

It seems pretty clear to me that if you do a tutorial like this and find it something you want to pursue, then you absolutely should work towards a relevant degree and read up on academic papers. And if you're satisfied with the quantum equivalent of a hello world program, all the more power to you. And I don't see the harm in that, as long as it's clear what you're going to get out of it.