[Discussion] Quantum computers.

[Noob1337]

What do you guys think about these? Will these completely change C++ and future binary languages? Also, brute force software and hacking would be a breeze with these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyX8E4KUkWw

Qubits - lulz
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qt-quantcomp/

[Catfish]

I think it's safe to say most of us here won't live long enough to see handheld quantum iSheets.
The same can be said about C++. Simpler, more expressive and heavily automated languages will take its place.

That said, a programming language is just a way to convey your thoughts so a computer will "understand" them. Any paradigm shift will be toward ease of use for us, farther from the machine and closer to the human. I hope.

As for brute forcing and hacking, that's what we have one-time padding for. Which will become practical by the time we have quantum computers and huge storage capability.

[Peter87]

I hope they never become reality. They will ruin the fun of programming.

[Gaminic]

This might be because I simply don't understand it, but any explanation and introduction to Quantum Computing I read sounds like complete nonsense. It always seems to boil down to "and then the computer suddenly knows the solution!". It might simply be that the simplifications/analogies used are nonsense, but that's generally a bad sign as well.

[Peter87]

Gaminic, the real explanation involves quantum physics so it is a bit too complicated for most people, including me.