Issues Installing Quantum Package Using zsh Shell

[djstaros]

When attempting to install Quantum Package 2 following the install instructions at https://quantum-package.readthedocs.io/en/master/intro/install.html on a 2020 MacBook Pro (default shell zsh) running Ventura, I run into several issues which seem to ultimately be related to the shell environment. I am unable to figure out how to build Quantum Package 2 due to these issues.

This is what I have tried:
Step 1: git clone https://github.com/QuantumPackage/qp2 (then cd into qp2)
Step 2: ./configure -i all (NOTE: ./configure on its own gave me issues about dependencies not being installed)
Step 3: ./configure -c config/gfortran.cfg
Step 4: source quantum_package.rc
--> ERROR: quantum_package.rc:cd:22: no such file or directory: /Users/danielstaros/etc
Step 5: Set QP_ROOT="/Users/danielstaros/Codes/qp2" within quantum_package.rc
Step 6: source quantum_package.rc
--> ERROR: quantum_package.rc:cd:22: no such file or directory: /Users/danielstaros/etc
Step 7: echo $(ps -p $$ -ocomm=)
--> OUTPUT: -zsh
Step 8: Change "zsh" in quantum_package.rc to "-zsh"
Step 9: source quantum_package.rc
--> ERRORS: configure.rc:34: command not found: complete
--> qp.rc:301: command not found: complete
Step 10: Add the following to my ~/.zshrc file and re-source ~/.zshrc (suggestion from StackOverflow):
--> autoload -U +X bashcompinit && bashcompinit
--> autoload -U +X compinit && compinit
Step 11: source quantum_package.rc
--> NO ERROR!
Step 12: make
--> ERRORS: ocamlfind: Package 'zmq' not found
--> Command exited with code 2.
--> Compilation unsuccessful after building 1 target (0 cached) in 00:00:00.
--> make[1]: *** [qptypes_generator.byte] Error 10
--> FAILED: ocaml_target
--> make -C /Users/danielstaros/Codes/qp2/ocaml
--> ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.
--> make: *** [default] Error 1

This looks like some issue regarding ocaml, but ocaml seemed to install correctly when I configured the dependencies in Step 2. I have not been able to troubleshoot this error, but even if I was, this example still makes it clear that installing Quantum Package 2 in a zsh shell on MacBook Pro is not particularly straightforward. I believe the user experience would definitely benefit from changes that address this issue, if possible. Any insight for how to fix this would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
Daniel Staros

[scemama]

Dear Daniel,
MacOS is not supported by QP, only Linux. We are working on it (in low priority), but there is still a lot to do.
best,
Anthony

[djstaros]

Dear Anthony,

Thank you for the prompt response. I see. I am looking forward to the support whenever it is launched :) Feel free to close this issue until then.

Kind regards,
Daniel

[mveril]

Hello @djstaros,

Sorry for the big delay on my response but I not work actively on the project now. I did my PhD with the team that created Quantum Package (QP). I can confirm QP only supports Linux. However, it is possible to run Linux on macOS or Windows using lightweight VM technology.

Personally, I used QP on Windows with WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) and it performed well. I also developed a Quantum Package Docker container that is the core of the try quantum package on the quantum package website). Since Docker also uses lightweight VMs on Windows and Mac (with the WSL backend on Windows), it works effectively. I tested it on a Mac during my PhD, and it worked perfectly (I didn't compare the performance, though).

Another option is Multipass, which is similar to WSL on Windows (running a Linux distribution under a lightweight VM). However, since Multipass is built by Canonical, it only supports Ubuntu as the distribution choice. You can find more information about Multipass here.

I haven't tested Multipass, so I can't confirm if it works, but Docker works perfectly. I have prepared an updated version of QP_demo for QP 2.2.2. I created a branch which includes compilation tools for you, so you can also create Quantum Package plugins with it. You can find it at this link. You can also mount a local directory into the container with the -v argument of the docker run command.

So, if you really want QP on your Mac, you definitely have the Docker container option, and maybe Multipass.