Quantinuum is opening quantum to all developers with Guppy, a Python-based language, and Selene, an open source emulator for accessible, collaborative development.
Quantinuum is widening access to quantum computing by releasing two major open source tools—a Python-based programming language called Guppy and a quantum hardware emulator named Selene. Together, they aim to remove the steep barriers that have long restricted quantum development to well-funded labs and institutions.
Guppy, built on Python, makes coding for quantum systems more intuitive by supporting familiar constructs such as if/then logic and loops. Beyond syntax, it gives developers access to advanced protocols including magic state distillation, state injection, teleportation, and measurement-based routines. Guppy also integrates directly with Nvidia’s CUDA-QX, automating error correction for developers.
Complementing Guppy is Selene, described as a ‘digital sister’ to Quantinuum’s Helios quantum computer. Acting as a digital twin, it enables the realistic modelling of entangled quantum behaviour, allowing developers to test and refine code in a low-cost, accessible environment before moving to physical machines. Guppy programs run natively on Selene, ensuring seamless workflow between coding and emulation.
Both tools are linked through Nexus, Quantinuum’s cloud-native SaaS platform. Nexus serves as the central hub for programme management, team collaboration, server-side emulation, and results analysis—positioning the ecosystem as a full-stack open-source environment for quantum innovation.
By making Guppy and Selene freely available, Quantinuum is signalling a push to democratise quantum computing. The company believes the approach will allow a far larger developer community to experiment with quantum technologies, sparking faster progress in fields such as drug discovery, materials science, and artificial intelligence.
In an industry where hardware-specific complexity has slowed adoption, Quantinuum’s open-source ecosystem offers a practical pathway to collaborative development and scalable quantum applications.
