Running an experiment

You set up a run on the workflow's page in four parts: your problem, where to run, solver settings and the run summary. Press Run and Qsolve sizes the run and quotes a price. Within your spend limit it starts at once. Above it, it waits for your approval. You must be signed in; otherwise the button reads Sign in to run.

Your problem

The input form is generated from the workflow's input schema and validates as you type. The Run summary box shows Ready when the input is valid, or "N to fix" with the problems marked in the form.

Start from lists the workflow's example inputs, for instance "6-node graph" for max-cut. Choose one to load it, or Blank to start empty. The first example loads by default.

Switch Edit as to JSON to edit the raw input. The editor reports "Valid input" or the first problem, and Open a .json file loads an input from disk. The input must be a JSON object under 1 MB. For a QUBO it looks like this:

{
  "Q": [[-3, 2, 0, 1, 0],
        [ 2,-2, 3, 0, 1],
        [ 0, 3,-4, 2, 0],
        [ 1, 0, 2,-1, 2],
        [ 0, 1, 0, 2,-3]],
  "labels": ["a", "b", "c", "d", "e"]
}

An information icon next to Your problem states the workflow's limits, such as "Up to 24 binary variables per run". Inputs outside the limits are rejected before any credits are spent.

Where to run

Choose a machine under Where to run. Only machines the workflow supports appear:

Each card shows its availability: Ready (with the number in the queue), Starts on demand or No machine idle. A card that is unavailable says why and cannot be selected. For the IBM quantum computer, pick a Device from the chips or type another name under Other device. Machines and targets says when to use which.

Solver settings

If the workflow has settings, Solver settings shows Tuned defaults. Select Adjust to open them. Each workflow declares its own, with limits and a description behind the information icon. For generic-qubo and max-cut:

When you change a setting the summary reads "N changed", and Reset to defaults restores them. The workflow's author chose the defaults, and the track record was measured with them, so changing them takes you away from the numbers on the workflow page.

Run summary and spend limit

The Run summary box repeats the target and shows the workflow's Typical cost. The Spend limit is the most you will pay for this run, between 0.0001 and 1,000 credits. Qsolve suggests ten times the typical cost, rounded up and at least 1 credit, or 5 credits if the workflow has no cost history. The box also shows your balance and a link to Usage.

After sizing, Qsolve shows an exact quote. If the run's hold is within your limit it starts. If not, you decide. See Credits and pricing.

After you press Run

The run page opens. A progress strip shows Sized, Quoted, Queued, Running and Settled (or Failed or Stopped).

• Needs your OK. The hold is above your spend limit. The page shows the quote, the amount held while running and your limit. Choose Run for up to X credits to accept or Cancel. An unconfirmed quote expires after 15 minutes.
• Stop. A run that has not started ends at once and nothing is charged. A running run is stopped and billed for what it used.
• Run again. Reopens the workflow with the same input, settings and target. It runs the latest published version, which may differ from the one you ran before. See Reproducibility.
• Report. Downloads the run and its events as a JSON file.

Your balance and recent runs are on My runs and Usage.