Limitation
Input/output defines input and output
modifiers on classical declarations. input marks a value supplied at run time — the spec's
motivating case is a parameterised circuit compiled once and executed many times with
different angles. output marks a value returned to the host.
pyqasm parses both declarations but never registers them in scope. Any later use fails.
Example QASM failure
The spec's own parameterised-circuit pattern:
OPENQASM 3.0;
include "stdgates.inc";
input float[64] a;
qubit[1] q;
rx(a) q[0];
// ValidationError: Invalid parameter 'a' for gate 'rx'
An input used in ordinary classical code fails the same way:
OPENQASM 3.0;
input int[8] a;
int[8] b = a;
// ValidationError: Invalid initialization value for variable 'b'
output is not registered either:
OPENQASM 3.0;
output bit[2] c;
qubit[2] q;
c = measure q;
// ValidationError: Missing register declaration for 'c' in measurement operation
OPENQASM 3.0;
output int[8] c;
c = 1;
// ValidationError: Undefined variable c in assignment
A bare input bit[2] a; with no subsequent use validates cleanly, which confirms the
declaration is parsed and then discarded.
Change Requested
- Register
input and output declarations in the global scope with their declared types,
so that every later reference resolves.
- An
output-qualified variable must be assignable, including as a measurement target.
- Preserve both qualifiers through
dumps() — a round-trip must not silently turn an input
into an ordinary declaration.
- Enforce the spec's scope rule:
input and output are permitted only in global scope.
Open design question
pyqasm's unroller evaluates classical expressions to concrete values, but an input has no
value at analysis time. Two viable directions, and this issue should settle which:
- Binding API — accept values at load or unroll time, e.g.
pyqasm.loads(qasm, inputs={"a": 0.5}), and substitute them during unrolling. Concrete
output, no representation change, but requires the caller to supply every input.
- Symbolic passthrough — treat an unbound
input as an opaque symbol, validate its type
and usage, and emit the expression unevaluated. Keeps the program parameterised at the cost
of expression handling that tolerates non-numeric operands.
Supporting both — bind when a value is given, pass through when it is not — is likely the
right end state, but the first increment should pick one. Maintainer input needed.
Implementation Details
openqasm3 exposes the qualifier as IOKeyword.input / IOKeyword.output on
ClassicalDeclaration / IODeclaration. Confirm which node type the parser produces for
each so the visitor branches correctly.
- The declaration path is
Qasm3Visitor._visit_classical_declaration in
src/pyqasm/visitor.py; the IODeclaration node appears to fall through without a scope
entry. Registering the variable is the minimal fix that clears all four failures above.
- The error
"Invalid parameter 'a' for gate 'rx'" comes from the gate-argument evaluation
path — it fires because the identifier does not resolve, so scope registration fixes it
directly under the binding approach, and requires expression-level tolerance under the
symbolic approach.
output needs the variable marked assignable and visible to the measurement path that
raises "Missing register declaration for 'c' in measurement operation".
- Tests:
tests/qasm3/test_declarations.py — input in a gate argument, input in classical
arithmetic, output as a measurement target, output in a plain assignment, a dumps()
round-trip preserving both keywords, and input declared inside a def body raising a
ValidationError.
Limitation
Input/output defines
inputandoutputmodifiers on classical declarations.
inputmarks a value supplied at run time — the spec'smotivating case is a parameterised circuit compiled once and executed many times with
different angles.
outputmarks a value returned to the host.pyqasmparses both declarations but never registers them in scope. Any later use fails.Example QASM failure
The spec's own parameterised-circuit pattern:
An
inputused in ordinary classical code fails the same way:outputis not registered either:A bare
input bit[2] a;with no subsequent use validates cleanly, which confirms thedeclaration is parsed and then discarded.
Change Requested
inputandoutputdeclarations in the global scope with their declared types,so that every later reference resolves.
output-qualified variable must be assignable, including as a measurement target.dumps()— a round-trip must not silently turn aninputinto an ordinary declaration.
inputandoutputare permitted only in global scope.Open design question
pyqasm's unroller evaluates classical expressions to concrete values, but aninputhas novalue at analysis time. Two viable directions, and this issue should settle which:
pyqasm.loads(qasm, inputs={"a": 0.5}), and substitute them during unrolling. Concreteoutput, no representation change, but requires the caller to supply every input.
inputas an opaque symbol, validate its typeand usage, and emit the expression unevaluated. Keeps the program parameterised at the cost
of expression handling that tolerates non-numeric operands.
Supporting both — bind when a value is given, pass through when it is not — is likely the
right end state, but the first increment should pick one. Maintainer input needed.
Implementation Details
openqasm3exposes the qualifier asIOKeyword.input/IOKeyword.outputonClassicalDeclaration/IODeclaration. Confirm which node type the parser produces foreach so the visitor branches correctly.
Qasm3Visitor._visit_classical_declarationinsrc/pyqasm/visitor.py; theIODeclarationnode appears to fall through without a scopeentry. Registering the variable is the minimal fix that clears all four failures above.
"Invalid parameter 'a' for gate 'rx'"comes from the gate-argument evaluationpath — it fires because the identifier does not resolve, so scope registration fixes it
directly under the binding approach, and requires expression-level tolerance under the
symbolic approach.
outputneeds the variable marked assignable and visible to the measurement path thatraises
"Missing register declaration for 'c' in measurement operation".tests/qasm3/test_declarations.py—inputin a gate argument,inputin classicalarithmetic,
outputas a measurement target,outputin a plain assignment, adumps()round-trip preserving both keywords, and
inputdeclared inside adefbody raising aValidationError.