Abstract: Developing applications for early quantum computers (QCs) is complicated by immature software tools and algorithms, the lack of performance advantage on real-world problems, diverse hardware implementations, and rapid change. With the uncertain arrival date of performance advantage, motivating and sustaining organizational interest in developing such apps is difficult. This panel of app developers for early QCs explores their experiences with both technical and organizational aspects. Among the questions to be addressed about quantum application development are these:

• Is the quantum circuit model an appropriate API?
• Are unitary transformations the right model?
• Should higher level APIs exist?
• What skill set is required?
• What kinds of ROI do companies expect from successful quantum applications?
• Which application verticals are likely to benefit initially from quantum advantage?

Defining quantum advantage as superior quantum performance on a real-world problem and quantum preference as a bias for QC use in expectation of quantum advantage, is quantum advantage or quantum preference a stronger motivation for involvement in quantum application development? Involvement in quantum application development provides end-users a front-row seat to the developing ecosystem of QC. With current QCs, this experience generally requires extreme down-sizing and simplification of problems as well as a relaxation of standards by which one measures successful development experiences. These real-world experiences must be weighed against potential future performance advantages. How are these trade-offs accomplished? How are organizations motivated to sustain an effort like this when the horizon for potential pay-off cannot be predicted with certainty?