Software simulation of a quantum computer

Question

While we are waiting for our quantum computers, is it possible to write a software simulation of one? I suspect the answer is no, but hope the reasons why not will throw som

Answer 1

There is a very big list of languages, frameworks and simulators. Some simulate at low level the quantum equations, other just the gates.

• Microsoft Quantum Development Kit (Q#)
• Microsoft LIQUi>IBM Quantum Experience
• Rigetti Forest
• ProjectQ
• QuTiP
• OpenFermion
• Qbsolv
• ScaffCC
• Quantum Computing Playground (Google)
• Raytheon BBN
• Quirk
• Forest

It would be great to know your opinions on their capabilities and easiness of use.

https://quantumcomputingreport.com/resources/tools/ https://github.com/topics/quantum-computing?o=desc&s=stars

Answer 2

As Wikipedia state:

A classical computer could in principle (with exponential resources) simulate a quantum algorithm, as quantum computation does not violate the Church–Turing thesis.

Answer 3

Yet another reason why classical simulation of quantum computing is hard: you need almost perfect - i.e. as perfect as possible - random number generators to simulate measurement.