Installing molecular modeling software is only the first hurdle. The next questions tend to arrive together: Does my computer meet the requirements? Where did the application install? What should I do when it opens—and how do I get from a blank workspace to a structure I can work with?
This practical checklist follows the path from checking your setup to choosing a useful next step in SAMSON. It is designed to help you avoid a common time sink: troubleshooting the wrong thing because you skipped a basic check.
Before installation: check the foundations
Start with the Requirements and platforms guide. Confirm operating-system support, hardware expectations, and—in the case of Linux—any required dependencies. This simple step can help distinguish an installation issue from a system or graphics setup issue.
Then follow Install SAMSON for the installer workflow, including sign-in and key entry. If installation or graphics setup does not behave as expected, use the Troubleshooting guide rather than repeatedly reinstalling without checking the cause.
Find the right way to launch it
The launch method depends on your operating system:
- Windows: Search for SAMSON from the Start menu. The documentation lists the executable at
C:/Users/%USERNAME%/OneAngstrom/SAMSON-Application/11.0.0/Binaries/SAMSON-Core.exe. - Mac: Open SAMSON from Launchpad or the Applications folder. The documented application location is
$HOME/Applications/SAMSON.app/. - Linux: Launch it from the Apps dashboard, or open a terminal in the installation’s Binaries folder and run
./SAMSON-Core.sh. The documented folder is~/OneAngstrom/SAMSON-Application/11.0.0/Binaries.
On Linux, you can also add a shortcut by placing an alias in ~/.bashrc or ~/.zprofile, then opening a new terminal. For AMD/ATI graphics issues, the documentation points to the Linux section of Troubleshooting.
After the first launch: take one step at a time
On its first start, SAMSON downloads a set of default extensions from SAMSON Connect. Extensions add different kinds of tools—including apps, editors, controllers, models, and parsers—to support tasks such as building models, running simulations, and visualizing results. You do not need to understand every extension before getting oriented.
If the interface is unfamiliar, begin with First look: the interface. If your immediate goal is to open a structure, go straight to Loading molecules. For a broader introduction to navigation, documents, visualizations, simulations, and help routes, use the Quick Start Guide.
Once you know what your workflow needs, you can customize your installation. Sign in to your account, visit the Marketplace, and choose extensions that fit your work. If you want to manage extensions in more detail or explore development, see Extending SAMSON.
A useful first-session goal is simply to confirm that the application launches, orient yourself in the interface, and open one structure. That gives you a clear foundation before deciding which tools or extensions you need.
For the complete setup steps and platform-specific details, learn more in the SAMSON Getting Started documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.