# Cirq

Google quantum computing framework.

- Repository: https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills (55651 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: Apache-2.0 license
- Last updated: 2026-10-26
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills --skill cirq -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills --skill cirq -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills --skill cirq -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills --skill cirq -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

Google quantum computing framework. Use when targeting Google Quantum AI hardware, designing noise-aware circuits, or running quantum characterization experiments. Best for Google hardware, noise modeling, and low-level circuit design. For IBM hardware use qiskit; for quantum ML with autodiff use pennylane; for physics simulations use qutip.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Cirq - Quantum Computing with Python

Cirq is Google Quantum AI's open-source framework for designing, simulating, and running quantum circuits on quantum computers and simulators.

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:
- Building, simulating, or optimizing NISQ circuits in Python
- Running jobs on Google Quantum AI processors (via `cirq-google`) or partner backends (IonQ, Azure Quantum, AQT, Pasqal)
- Modeling noise, compiling to hardware gatesets, or designing characterization experiments
- Using parameter sweeps, transformers, or the ReCirq experiment patterns

For IBM hardware use **qiskit**; for quantum ML with autodiff use **pennylane**; for physics simulations use **qutip**.

## Installation

Examples target **Cirq 1.7.0** on Python 3.11+. Keep Cirq vendor packages on the matching release; independently versioned integrations such as Azure Quantum need their own compatibility check.

```bash
uv pip install "cirq-core==1.7.0"
# Optional OpenQASM import dependency
uv pip install ply
```

For hardware integration (pin matching versions for reproducibility):
```bash
# Google Quantum Engine (requires approved GCP project access)
uv pip install "cirq-google==1.7.0"

# IonQ
uv pip install "cirq-ionq==1.7.0"

# AQT (Alpine Quantum Technologies)
uv pip install "cirq-aqt==1.7.0"

# Pasqal
uv pip install "cirq-pasqal==1.7.0"

# Azure: use a SEPARATE environment; its current extras require Cirq <1.7.
uv pip install "qdk[azure,cirq]==1.32.3" "azure-quantum==3.13.0"
```

Pin all `cirq-*` packages in an environment to the same release. The Azure
example targets its supported Cirq 1.6.1 stack separately; do not force Cirq 1.7.0
into it. Cirq 1.7.0 updates the IonQ adapter to API v0.4.

Local examples were checked with synthetic circuits. Hardware examples are
illustrative and were checked against released source and provider documentation,
without submitting cloud jobs. See [review evidence](references/review.md).

## Quick Start

### Basic Circuit

The rest: https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/cirq/SKILL.md