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QuNetSim
What it is
QuNetSim is a free, MIT-licensed Python framework for developing and testing quantum networking applications and protocols. Its built-in tasks include qubit teleportation, entanglement distribution, superdense coding, and quantum key distribution. The framework supports multi-hop quantum networks, using entanglement swapping to create links between distant hosts. Users can write routing functions based on classical and quantum network states, with network structures represented by NetworkX graphs. QuNetSim uses an event-driven model; packets carry sequence numbers and can wait for acknowledgements. Host, Protocols, and Network components correspond to application, transport, and network layers. Documented backends include SimulaQron, ProjectQ, and EQSN, with SimulaQron as the default, and users can implement their own network and qubit backends. Installation uses pip and includes a template script for generating an example. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with self-hosted desktop deployment. The project is intended especially for students and instructors new to quantum networks.
For and against
For
- Free, MIT-licensed software
- Built-in quantum networking tasks
- Supports multi-hop networks and custom routing
- Multiple documented backends
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
Against
- Not designed for accurate quantum-physics simulation
- Not a full quantum network simulator
- Requires Python 3.5 or greater for setup
- No published security advisories or SECURITY.md policy
The verdict
QuNetSim provides an approachable framework for exploring quantum networking protocols, routing, and event-driven behavior. Its educational scope and simulation limitations should guide expectations about production or physics-accurate use.
Who it suits
QuNetSim suits students, instructors, and developers learning or prototyping quantum networking concepts. It is appropriate for educational experimentation rather than accurate quantum-physics simulation.
Plans and prices
QuNetSim
MIT-licensed software · installable via pip
Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Architecture
- Its Host, Protocols, and Network components represent application, transport, and network layers, respectively.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Backends
- The documentation lists SimulaQron, ProjectQ, and EQSN as supported backends, with SimulaQron as the default.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Custom routing
- Users can write routing functions based on classical and quantum network states; network structures use NetworkX graphs.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Event-driven behavior
- QuNetSim is event-driven, and packets include sequence numbers and can wait for acknowledgements.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Extensible backends
- The backend is modular and users can implement and import their own network and qubit backends.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The project documents installation with pip and provides a template script that generates an example.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The documentation describes students and instructors, especially people relatively new to quantum networks, as its intended users.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository includes an MIT License granting permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, sublicense, and sell copies, subject to its stated conditions.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The GitHub organization identifies itself as the Theoretical Quantum Systems Design Group and lists Munich.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Multi-hop networks
- The framework supports multi-hop quantum networks and uses entanglement swapping to generate entanglement between distant hosts.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- The installation guide provides instructions for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows and requires Python 3.5 or greater for its platform-specific setup instructions.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- QuNetSim is a Python framework for developing and testing quantum networking applications and protocols.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Quantum tasks
- Built-in tasks include qubit teleportation, entanglement distribution, superdense coding, and quantum key distribution.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- GitHub reports that the repository has no SECURITY.md policy and no published security advisories.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Simulation limitation
- The project says it is an educational tool and is not designed to accurately simulate quantum physics or serve as a full quantum network simulator.tqsd.github.io · read 4 Oct 2026
