Quantum import convention

[ss2165]

Currently guppy examples import all quantuim functions at the top of the python module. Something like the following excerpt from the adaptive qpe example:

from guppylang import guppy
from guppylang.prelude.angles import angle
from guppylang.prelude.builtins import py, result
from guppylang.prelude.quantum import discard, measure, qubit, h, rz, x, zz_phase, crz

@guppy
def oracle(ctrl: qubit, q: qubit, t: float) -> None:
    """Applies a controlled e^-iπHt/2 gate for the example Hamiltonian H = 0.5 * Z."""
    crz(ctrl, q, angle(0.5*t))

@guppy
def eigenstate() -> qubit:
    """Prepares eigenstate of the example Hamiltonian H = 0.5 * Z."""
    q = qubit()
    x(q)
    return q

Having to go back and import so many things from one place is not nice because:

1. Source of frustration every time you want a new op
2. No IDE auto complete for operations at point of use
3. Long import lines

It is for these kinds of reasons that many python libraries with a large range of top level functions and types use the import abbreviation convention:

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
import tensorflow as tf
import qnexus as qnx

I propose we adopt/promote this in guppy, but focussed on the standard library. You should also be able to conveniently import built-ins (ones that don't clash with python built-ins) without having to import them one by one. This relates to #430. So rewriting the example above:

from guppylang import guppy
from guppylang.prelude import * # brings things like `py`, `result`, `qubit`, `array` in to python scope
from guppylang.std import quantum as gq # better two letter abbreviations welcome

@guppy
def oracle(ctrl: qubit, q: qubit, t: float) -> None:
    """Applies a controlled e^-iπHt/2 gate for the example Hamiltonian H = 0.5 * Z."""
    gq.crz(ctrl, q, angle(0.5*t)) # I got `crz` suggested in my IDE when I typed `gq.`!

@guppy
def eigenstate() -> qubit:
    """Prepares eigenstate of the example Hamiltonian H = 0.5 * Z."""
    q = qubit()
    gq.x(q)
    return q

(Sneaky bonus: #640)

[acl-cqc]

This is all about convention in examples, not what the language supports (which just mirrors python), right?

[ss2165]

yes