Molecular modelers often face a recurring dilemma: their current software tools don’t fully match their workflows. Whether you’re developing a novel simulation method, need a custom editor to manipulate structures, or want to integrate a specific parser or exporter, the ability to tailor your molecular modeling environment can be a game changer.
If you’ve ever thought, “I wish my modeling platform did this,” then the SAMSON SDK might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Why Extend SAMSON?
SAMSON is built with openness in mind. Its architecture is modular, meaning virtually every part of the platform can be extended. Whether you’re interested in visualization, simulation, data import/export, or structured editing tools, everything is packaged as a SAMSON Extension—which you can create yourself.
Using the SAMSON SDK, you can build:
- Apps: Implement custom functionality or interface with external software.
- Editors: Develop interactive tools for intuitive editing or analysis tasks.
- Force Fields: Integrate your own energy functions or dynamical models.
- Importers & Exporters: Control how data enters and leaves your project.
- State Updaters: Add simulation algorithms such as Monte Carlo or molecular dynamics.
Whether you’re coming from a research background or developing a workflow for a team, this level of control makes SAMSON more than just software—it becomes your own molecular workbench.
Getting Started with the SAMSON SDK
To develop a SAMSON Extension:
- Sign up or log in to your SAMSON Connect account.
- Download the SAMSON SDK from the Download section.
- Follow the Developer Guide to get started with templates, build tools, and deployment instructions.
The SDK comes with templates for common types of extensions, significantly reducing the boilerplate you have to write. Want to wrap an existing C++ library or Python script? That’s possible too. The SDK helps you focus on your scientific or technical goal while SAMSON takes care of rendering, data handling, and user interface integration.
Distribute Your Work
Once your extension is ready, you can publish it on the SAMSON Connect Marketplace. You can choose to make it free, or monetize it through subscriptions. The platform supports flexible licensing options via Stripe, allowing you to define different tiers for commercial and academic users.
What Can You Build?
Here are a few example ideas:
- A protein structure correction tool based on geometric heuristics
- A web service connector to perform QM calculations in the cloud
- A trajectory analyzer that detects conformational transitions
- A 3D annotation editor tailored for drug design teams
By building your own SAMSON Extensions, you turn ideas into practical tools—rapidly, and without reinventing the visualization or UI wheel.
To explore how to get started and distribute your own extension, visit the Extending SAMSON documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON here.