2026-10-05T21:32:54Z https://drops.dagstuhl.de/oai

oai:drops-oai.dagstuhl.de:28047 2026-10-05T06:44:06Z ddc:004 open_access

Toward Entanglement Dependence Metrics for Quantum Software Complexity Yu, Haibo Zhao, Jianjun Quantum software engineering quantum program analysis entanglement dependence software metrics software complexity Quantum software is often described using circuit-level metrics, including the number of qubits, the number of gates, circuit depth, the number of two-qubit gates, and the number of measurement operations. These metrics are useful for estimating program size and execution cost, but they do not directly describe whether and to what extent qubits become structurally related through possible entanglement during program execution. This paper argues that entanglement dependence provides a basis for measuring a quantum-specific form of software complexity. The proposed metrics capture possible entanglement-related structural dependence, not physical entanglement observed in a particular execution. Based on this notion, we define a focused set of six metrics that characterize the amount, density, local connectivity, global scope, program span, and modular crossing of entanglement-related dependencies. We also analyze these metrics using Weyuker’s properties for evaluating software complexity measures. The paper presents the metrics as a measurement framework and research direction for empirical quantum software engineering. It discusses how future studies can validate the metrics and examine their usefulness for testing, debugging, maintenance, and program comprehension of quantum software. Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik Haibo Yu and Jianjun Zhao 2026 Is Part Of LIPIcs, Volume 394, 20th International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement (ESEM 2026) InProceedings Text doc-type:ResearchArticle publishedVersion application/pdf doi:10.4230/LIPIcs.ESEM.2026.79 urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-280472 https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/LIPIcs.ESEM.2026.79 eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode