Cascade Generation
Explore storyboard generation as a graph with a quantum walk that biases toward the next best step for animators.
Quantum walkยท graph exploration
Section ยท Quantum
full primer โThe hook.
Storyboard generation is laid out as a graph; a quantum walker explores it and lights up the most promising next step for filmmakers to take.
Why this primitiveQuantum walk is the right primitive here because storyboard generation reduces to a graph exploration problem; the kernel returns a result you can drop straight into the UI.
Kernel
a discrete-time quantum walk on a small graph returning a probability distribution over nodes after t steps
Drives the UI as
an animated graph where node opacity reflects walk probability
Appendix A
The mega-prompt.
This prompt is engineered to ship in a single Lovable build. Real Quantinuum Guppy/Selene circuit runs in the Linux sandbox at build time and the results are baked in as JSON. read the build strategy โ
~14.2 KB296 lines1 msg ยท ~5 credits
Build "Cascade Generation"โa one-page quantum storyboard explorer for filmmakers.
**BUDGET: ~5 credits, ONE build message. No scope creep.**
**Constraints:**
- Free Lovable plan. Static app only (no auth, Cloud, database).
- One workspace page + "About the quantum" footer strip.
- All quantum output precomputed at build time โ src/data/quantum-results.json.
**Real Quantum (Quantinuum Guppy + Selene):**
**Build order (follow exactly):**
1. In sandbox: `pip install guppylang selene-sim`.
2. Create `quantum/kernel.py` (real .py file, not REPL): discrete-time quantum walk on a 16-node graph using Guppy @guppy decorator. Kernel takes time-step t โ [0,7] as input, returns probability distribution over 16 nodes.
3. Create `quantum/run.py`: import kernel, compile via `guppylang.compiler.compile()`, run on Selene emulator (selene_sim.build, Quest, run_shots โค256 shots). Loop t=0..7, collect per-node probabilities. Write to `src/data/quantum-results.json`: `[{"t": 0, "probabilities": [...]}, ...]`.
4. Execute `quantum/run.py` once during build. Commit real JSON output.
**Frontend (TanStack Start, /index.tsx):**
- Import `quantum-results.json` statically.
- **Layout:** dark workspace (bg-slate-950), three columns:
- **Left (Card):** time-step slider (Slider 0โ7), labeled "Cascade step".
- **Center (Card):** animated 16-node graph (SVG or canvas). Node radius/opacity = probability from active record. Accent color: deep purple (#7c3aed, filmmaking mood).
- **Right (Card):** active probabilities table (Badge per node, sorted by probability).
- **Footer:** "About the quantum" (Tabs: "Overview" + "Quantum trace").
- Trace tab: show raw JSON for active record + collapsible "View Guppy source" (pre block, monospace, print `quantum/kernel.py` inline).
- **Interaction:** slider change โ re-render graph with new probabilities, smooth opacity transition.
- **Font:** Inter (system default).
**Deliverable:** Deploy where every probability traces to real Selene output. Judges see genuine quantum walk in Guppy source.
--- QUANTINUUM APPENDIX (self-contained reference โ paste verbatim) ---
[1] INSTALL (Lovable Linux sandbox):
python -m pip install --no-cache-dir guppylang selene-sim
[2] IMPORTS (use exactly these โ no other quantum libs):
# quantum/kernel.py and quantum/run.py top
from guppylang import guppy
from guppylang.std.builtins import result
from guppylang.std.quantum import qubit, h, cx, rx, ry, rz, measure, discard, t as tgate, tdg
from guppylang.std.angles import angle, pi
from selene_sim import build, Quest
import math, json, sys, tempfile, importlib.util, uuid
from pathlib import Path
[3] HARD RULES (violating any breaks the build):
- @guppy reads source via inspect.getsource โ kernels MUST live in a real .py file on disk. No exec(), no REPL strings, no inline templates.
- Allowed gate set ONLY: h, rx, ry, rz, cx, tgate, tdg. There is NO native ccx/toffoli, cswap, cphase, or crz โ decompose using the snippets in [7].
- Qubit ownership: a qubit passed to a function is moved. You MUST measure() or discard() every qubit exactly once; never reuse after measure.
- Angle hygiene before baking a float into generated source:
theta = ((theta + math.pi) % (2.0 * math.pi)) - math.pi
and write it with repr: f"... {theta!r} ..." (str(float) can truncate).
[4] SELENE SHOT LOOP (canonical):
compiled = my_kernel.compile()
runner = build(compiled)
shots = []
for shot in runner.run_shots(Quest(), n_qubits=N, n_shots=S):
shots.append({str(lbl): int(v) for lbl, v in shot})
# N = MAX number of qubits simultaneously LIVE in the kernel.
# measure(q) releases the slot, so one ancilla reused across k windows still counts as 1.
[5] DRIVER PATTERN โ sweep a kernel over many inputs (closures do NOT work):
ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
if str(ROOT) not in sys.path: sys.path.insert(0, str(ROOT))
def run_one(params: dict, shots: int = 256):
# Bake params as literals into a fresh .py file that imports your kernel helpers.
src = (
"from quantum.kernel import guppy, my_helper\n"
"@guppy\n"
"def program() -> None:\n"
f" my_helper({params['a']!r}, {params['b']!r})\n"
)
tmp = Path(tempfile.gettempdir()) / "qprogs"; tmp.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
name = f"prog_{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}"
path = tmp / f"{name}.py"; path.write_text(src)
spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(name, path)
mod = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
sys.modules[name] = mod # register BEFORE exec_module
spec.loader.exec_module(mod)
runner = build(mod.program.compile())
out = []
for shot in runner.run_shots(Quest(), n_qubits=5, n_shots=shots):
out.append({str(l): int(v) for l, v in shot})
return out
[6] PER-QUBIT INTEGER DECODE (host-side):
# kernel emits: for j in range(n): result(f"x{j}", measure(q[j]))
def decode(rec, n):
x = 0
for j in range(n): x |= (rec.get(f"x{j}", 0) & 1) << j
return x
[7] DECOMPOSITION LIBRARY (copy verbatim into quantum/kernel.py):
# ---- Toffoli (CCX) from H, CX, T, Tdg โ 6-T standard decomposition ----
@guppy
def toffoli(c1: qubit, c2: qubit, tgt: qubit) -> None:
h(tgt)
cx(c2, tgt); tdg(tgt)
cx(c1, tgt); tgate(tgt)
cx(c2, tgt); tdg(tgt)
cx(c1, tgt); tgate(c2); tgate(tgt)
h(tgt)
cx(c1, c2); tgate(c1); tdg(c2)
cx(c1, c2)
# ---- CSWAP (Fredkin) from CX + Toffoli ----
@guppy
def cswap(c: qubit, a: qubit, b: qubit) -> None:
cx(b, a)
toffoli(c, a, b)
cx(b, a)
# ---- Controlled phase exp(i*theta) on |11> from rz + cx ----
@guppy
def cphase(c: qubit, d: qubit, theta: float) -> None:
rz(d, angle(theta / 2.0))
cx(c, d)
rz(d, angle(-theta / 2.0))
cx(c, d)
# ---- Amplitude-encoded feature state (3 floats in [0,1] โ 2-qubit state) ----
@guppy
def prep_features(q0: qubit, q1: qubit, a: float, b: float, c: float) -> None:
ry(q0, angle(a))
ry(q1, angle(b))
cx(q0, q1)
rz(q1, angle(c))
# ---- SWAP test kernel; HOST inverts: F = clamp(2*P(anc=0) - 1, 0, 1) ----
@guppy
def swap_test(ai: float, bi: float, ci: float,
aj: float, bj: float, cj: float) -> None:
anc = qubit()
pi0 = qubit(); pi1 = qubit()
pj0 = qubit(); pj1 = qubit()
prep_features(pi0, pi1, ai, bi, ci)
prep_features(pj0, pj1, aj, bj, cj)
h(anc)
cswap(anc, pi0, pj0)
cswap(anc, pi1, pj1)
h(anc)
result("anc", measure(anc))
discard(pi0); discard(pi1); discard(pj0); discard(pj1)
# n_qubits = 5 for swap_test above.
[8] CLASSICAL CROSS-CHECK (NumPy reference โ commit alongside quantum result):
import numpy as np
I = np.eye(2); X = np.array([[0,1],[1,0]])
def RY(t): c,s = math.cos(t/2), math.sin(t/2); return np.array([[c,-s],[s,c]])
def RZ(t): return np.array([[np.exp(-1j*t/2),0],[0,np.exp(1j*t/2)]])
CX = np.array([[1,0,0,0],[0,1,0,0],[0,0,0,1],[0,0,1,0]])
def prep_psi(a,b,c):
s = np.kron(RY(a)@np.array([1,0]), RY(b)@np.array([1,0]))
s = CX @ s
s = np.kron(I, RZ(c)) @ s
return s
def classical_fidelity(p, q):
return float(abs(np.vdot(prep_psi(*p), prep_psi(*q)))**2)
# Commit BOTH quantum and classical values per record:
# {"input": [...], "quantum": 0.873, "classical": 0.881, "shots": 256}
[9] FRONTEND HANDOFF (TanStack Start):
# quantum/run.py last step:
Path("src/data/quantum-results.json").write_text(json.dumps({
"records": records, # list of {input, quantum, classical, ...}
"circuit": {"n_qubits": 5, "shots": 256},
"kernel_source": Path("quantum/kernel.py").read_text(), # show on /code tab
}, indent=2))
# In React: import data from "@/data/quantum-results.json" (resolveJsonModule:true).
# Render data.records; render data.kernel_source in a <pre> inside the Quantum trace tab.
[10] BUILD ORDER (do not deviate โ keeps you under 5 credits):
1. Write quantum/kernel.py with the helpers from [7] you actually need.
2. Write quantum/run.py: driver pattern from [5], Selene loop from [4], cross-check from [8], JSON write from [9].
3. Execute once: python quantum/run.py (commit src/data/quantum-results.json).
4. Build the React route: static JSON import, shadcn Card + Tabs + Slider + Badge wiring.
5. Deploy. No Python at runtime; every on-screen number traces to committed Selene output.
[11] OUTPUT CONTRACT โ selene_run v1 (write this exact shape to src/data/quantum-results.json):
{
"schemaVersion": 1,
"experiment": "<idea-slug>",
"title": "<idea title>",
"description": "<one plain-English sentence โ what a non-quantum dev sees>",
"kernel": { "snippet": "<first 40 lines of quantum/kernel.py>", "qubits": <int>, "shotsPerRow": <int> },
"verdict": { "text": "<one-sentence headline of the result>", "good": true },
"metrics": [ { "name": "<label>", "value": <number>, "unit": "<%|bits|Hz|...>", "good": true } ],
"series": [ { "id": "<id>", "kind": "histogram"|"bar"|"line", "title": "...",
"xLabel": "...", "yLabel": "...", "yKeys": ["count"],
"points": [ { "label": "<x>", "values": { "count": <num> } } ] } ]
}
Reason: one schema = one renderer = a polished demo without bespoke React per idea.
All metric / series VALUES must come from real Selene shot data committed in step 3 โ no mocks.
[12] RENDERER โ create src/components/SeleneRunView.tsx with EXACTLY this body (no deps beyond react + tailwind):
import * as React from "react";
type Point = { label: string; values: Record<string, number> };
type Series = { id: string; kind: "histogram"|"bar"|"line"; title: string;
xLabel?: string; yLabel?: string; yKeys: string[]; points: Point[] };
type Metric = { name: string; value: number; unit?: string; good?: boolean };
export type SeleneRun = {
schemaVersion: 1; experiment: string; title: string; description: string;
kernel: { snippet: string; qubits: number; shotsPerRow: number };
verdict: { text: string; good: boolean };
metrics: Metric[]; series: Series[]; notes?: string;
};
const fmt = (n: number) => Math.abs(n) >= 100 ? n.toFixed(0) : Math.abs(n) >= 1 ? n.toFixed(2) : n.toFixed(3);
function Bars({ s }: { s: Series }) {
const max = Math.max(1, ...s.points.flatMap(p => s.yKeys.map(k => p.values[k] ?? 0)));
return (
<div className="space-y-1">
{s.points.map((p, i) => (
<div key={i} className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs">
<div className="w-20 truncate text-muted-foreground">{p.label}</div>
<div className="flex-1 h-3 bg-muted rounded-sm overflow-hidden">
<div className="h-full bg-primary" style={{ width: `${(100*(p.values[s.yKeys[0]]??0))/max}%` }} />
</div>
<div className="w-12 text-right tabular-nums">{fmt(p.values[s.yKeys[0]]??0)}</div>
</div>
))}
</div>
);
}
function Line({ s }: { s: Series }) {
const W=320, H=120, P=20;
const ys = s.points.map(p => p.values[s.yKeys[0]] ?? 0);
const min = Math.min(...ys), max = Math.max(...ys), span = max - min || 1;
const pts = ys.map((y, i) => {
const x = P + (i*(W-2*P))/Math.max(1, ys.length-1);
const yy = H - P - ((y - min)/span)*(H - 2*P);
return `${x},${yy}`;
}).join(" ");
return (
<svg viewBox={`0 0 ${W} ${H}`} className="w-full h-32">
<polyline fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" points={pts} className="text-primary" />
</svg>
);
}
export function SeleneRunView({ run }: { run: SeleneRun }) {
return (
<div className="space-y-6">
<header>
<div className="text-xs uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">{run.experiment}</div>
<h2 className="text-2xl font-semibold">{run.title}</h2>
<p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{run.description}</p>
<div className={`mt-2 inline-block px-3 py-1 rounded-full text-xs ${run.verdict.good?"bg-emerald-500/15 text-emerald-400":"bg-amber-500/15 text-amber-400"}`}>
{run.verdict.text}
</div>
</header>
<section className="grid grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-4 gap-3">
{run.metrics.map((m, i) => (
<div key={i} className="rounded-lg border border-border p-3">
<div className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">{m.name}</div>
<div className="text-xl font-semibold tabular-nums">{fmt(m.value)}<span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground ml-1">{m.unit}</span></div>
</div>
))}
</section>
<section className="space-y-6">
{run.series.map(s => (
<div key={s.id} className="rounded-lg border border-border p-4">
<div className="flex items-baseline justify-between mb-3">
<div className="text-sm font-medium">{s.title}</div>
<div className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">{s.xLabel} / {s.yLabel}</div>
</div>
{s.kind === "line" ? <Line s={s} /> : <Bars s={s} />}
</div>
))}
</section>
<footer className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground">
kernel: {run.kernel.qubits} qubits ยท {run.kernel.shotsPerRow} shots/row
</footer>
</div>
);
}
Then in the route: import data from "@/data/quantum-results.json"; <SeleneRunView run={data as any} />.
Quantum trace tab: <pre>{data.kernel.snippet}</pre>.
[HOOK] QUANTUM WALK โ coin + position register.
1 coin qubit c + n position qubits p[0..n-1]. Per step:
h(c)
# controlled increment of position register conditioned on c==1:
# for each bit j from n-1 down to 0, apply a multi-control X with controls (c, p[0..j-1])
# using the Toffoli ladder from [7].
Run ~n steps; measure p[]; bin shot frequencies into a 2**n-bin distribution.
selene_run mapping:
metrics: [ {"name":"peak node","value":peak_idx,"unit":""},
{"name":"steps","value":steps,"unit":""} ]
series: [ {"id":"node-prob","kind":"bar","title":"Probability per node",
"xLabel":"node","yLabel":"P","yKeys":["count"],
"points":[{"label":str(i),"values":{"count":p}} for i,p in enumerate(probs)]} ]Market sizing.
TAM
$9.0B
the animation industry (~$400B incl. film/TV) with >500K working animators.
SAM
$1.4B
the 15% of that market actively buying storyboard generation-adjacent software.
SOM
$40M
a realistic 3% capture of the serviceable slice in years 1โ3 via the hackathon launch and creator-led distribution.
Indicative figures for hackathon pitches โ refine with your own research before raising.
Adjacent entries.
storyboard generation
Resonance Generation
Compare storyboard generation candidates by quantum fidelity so animators pick the closest match in one tap.
storyboard generationField Generation
Reveal the topological shape (clusters, loops, voids) hiding inside storyboard generation so animators read structure at a glance.
storyboard generationLoadout Generation
Encode storyboard generation as an amplitude vector and plot the embedding so animators navigate possibilities visually.
storyboard generationCompass Generation
Search the combinatorial space of storyboard generation with a grover oracle that surfaces the right configuration in โn tries.