qiskit-connector 2.1.4

Quantum Computing Qiskit Connector For Quantum Backend Use In Realtime

qiskit-connector

⚛️Quantum Computing Qiskit Connector For Quantum Backend Use In Realtime

The Qiskit Connector transforms how quantum developers connect to IBM Quantum backends by automating every step of the authentication, plan detection, and backend selection process. Instead of writing extensive boilerplate setup code for each project, developers can now seamlessly authenticate, dynamically detect whether they are using an Open or Paid plan, and instantly access the optimal backend QPUresource which is least-busy using a single intuitive keyword: backend. The connector intelligently manages quantum computing plan environment variables and Qiskit runtime service configuration for sticky reusability of QPU resources from the backend, allowing quantum developers to streamline connection workflows and immediately focus on building, testing, and scaling quantum applications.

By eliminating manual configurations and connection complexities, Qiskit Connector empowers developers to reduce onboarding time, minimize human error, and accelerate quantum solution delivery. The tool is especially valuable for production-grade quantum development where agility, repeatability, and secure backend access are critical. Whether working in research environments, building enterprise-grade quantum solutions, or designing novel quantum algorithms, developers can now concentrate on high-value tasks without being slowed down by infrastructure setup challenges.

This package performs the following:

• Loads environment variables from config file (e.g. .env) to configure your IBM Quantum account plan and make the backend object available within your quantum application code for reuse in real-time.
• Detects your active plan (Open, Standard, Premium, Dedicated) and sets up the correct channel/instance.
• It has functions to save your account using its (qiskit_smart), to verify QPU resources using (qpu_verify, is_verified), and retrieve a ready-to-use backend using (connector()). Presents you with the least-busy backend to run your quantum application code in realtime instead of you using simulators.

🐍 Software built and maintained by Dr. Jeffrey Chijioke-Uche, IBM Quantum Ambassador & Research Scientist.

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📋 Features & API

These functions are available after you import the module:

from qiskit_connector import (
    connector,
    plan_type
)

• connector()
  Primary Integration Point: Seamlessly initializes your IBM Quantum account, selects the optimal QPU (or the first available device for open/paid plans), and emits a clear diagnostics summary. It returns a fully configured backend object that you can immediately pass to Qiskit’s sampler, estimator, transpiler, or any circuit execution API—so you can focus on your quantum workflows rather than connection boilerplate.

• plan_type()
  Subscription Plan Resolver: Automatically evaluates your environment configuration (via .env or system variables) to identify whether you’re operating under the Open Plan or a Paid Plan. This guarantees that your code consistently targets the correct IBM Quantum service tier, eliminating manual plan management and minimizing configuration drift.

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🔧 Installation

pip install qiskit-connector

This will also pull in functionalities powered by:

• qiskit>=2.0.0

and any other Qiskit dependencies. (Qiskit 1.x is not supported).

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🗂️ Environment Variable Setup

🔐 Security Practice: Do not check-in .env or environment variable config file or any environment variable file into version control. Add it to your .gitignore. During development, create a file named .env at your project root. The connector will automatically load it.Use the template below as the content of your .env file or variable config file.

# GENERAL PURPOSE
#--------------------------------------------
IQP_API_TOKEN="<PROVIDE_YOUR_API_TOKEN>"  


# Channels:
#------------------------------------------
OPEN_PLAN_CHANNEL="<PROVIDE_YOUR_CHANNEL>"  
PAID_PLAN_CHANNEL="<PROVIDE PAID PLAN CHANNEL>"  # After July 1, 2025, use ibm_cloud for Paid Plans.


# API Access:
#-------------------------------------
IQP_API_URL=<PROVIDE_YOUR_API_URL>  
IQP_RUNTIME_API_URL=<PROVIDE_YOUR_RUNTIME_API_URL>  


# Quantum Url:
# The API URL. Defaults to https://cloud.ibm.com (when channel=ibm_cloud) 
# The API URL:Default to:  https://auth.quantum.ibm.com/api (when channel=ibm_quantum)"
#-------------------------------------
CLOUD_API_URL=<PROVIDE_YOUR_CLOUD_API_URL>  
QUANTUM_API_URL="<PROVIDE_YOUR_QUANTUM_API_URL>"  


# Instance:
#-------------------------------------
OPEN_PLAN_INSTANCE="<PROVIDE_YOUR_OPEN_PLAN_INSTANCE>"  
PAID_PLAN_INSTANCE="<PROVIDE_YOUR_PAID_PLAN_INSTANCE>"  


# Default (Open plan) - free
#----------------------------------------
OPEN_PLAN_NAME="open"


# Optional (Upgrade) - Standard
#-----------------------------------------
STANDARD_PLAN_NAME="standard"


# Optional (Upgrade) - Premium
#-----------------------------------------
PREMIUM_PLAN_NAME="premium"


# Optional (Upgrade) - Dedicated
#-----------------------------------------
DEDICATED_PLAN_NAME="dedicated"


# Switch "on" one plan: 
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPEN_PLAN="on"        # [Default & switched on]  
STANDARD_PLAN="off"     
PREMIUM_PLAN="off"      
DEDICATED_PLAN="off"    

⚠️ Only one of OPEN_PLAN, STANDARD_PLAN, PREMIUM_PLAN, or DEDICATED_PLAN may be set to "on" at a time.

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📖 Usage

Open Plan (default free tier) and Paid Plan

from qiskit_connector import connector, plan_type
from qiskit_ibm_runtime import SamplerV2 as Sampler, Session

# QPU execution mode by plan: Use of 'backend' object.
current = plan_type()
backend = connector()

if current == "Open Plan":  # session not supported
    sampler = Sampler(mode=backend)
    print("Your Plan",current)
    print("Least Busy QPU:", backend.name)
    if isinstance(backend, IBMBackend):
        print("This is a real & live QPU device")
    else:
        print("This is a simulator")
    print(f"\n")
elif current == "Paid Plan":  # supports session
    with Session(backend=backend.name) as session:
        sampler = Sampler(mode=session)
        print("Your Plan",current)
        print("Least Busy QPU:", backend.name)
        if isinstance(backend, IBMBackend):
            print("This is a real & live QPU device")
        else:
            print("This is a simulator")
        print(f"\n")
else:
    raise ValueError(f"Unknown plan type: {current}")

# --- do other things below with backend, quantum circuit, sampler & transpilation ------

Sample Output

[✓] Quantum environment variables loaded successfully!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[⚛] Connected [Open Plan] -> Realtime Least Busy QPU: ibm_torino
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Available QPUs (Open Plan):
  - ibm_brisbane
  - ibm_sherbrooke
  - ibm_torino

Default QPU:     ibm_torino
Qubit Version:   2
Number Qubits:   133

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your Plan:       Open Plan
Least Busy QPU:  ibm_torino
This is a real & live QPU device

#-------- remaining code below ------

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📜 Citation & Reference

Qiskit Connector software invention was inspired by IBM Research on Quantum Computing Qiskit Software, which led the authoring, design, development of Qiskit Connector based on the persistent reearch studies and tests carried out by Dr. Jeffrey Chijioke-Uche(IBM Quantum Ambassador & Research Scientist) in the lab. This software is expected to continue to metamorphose with the help and work of existing quantum computing academic scholarly & peer reviewed research at different levels in the Information Technology industry. If you use Qiskit for Quantum computing, please cite this software as per the provided file.

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📜 Software Author & Publisher

Dr. Jeffrey Chijioke-Uche
IBM Computer Scientist
IBM Quantum Ambassador & Research Scientist
IEEE Senior Member (Computational Intelligence)

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📜 License

This project uses the Open-source