For many molecular modelers, there’s often a moment when the built-in tools just don’t go far enough. Whether you’re exploring custom simulations, integrating code you’ve already written, or just want to tailor your modeling environment to your workflow—extending your platform is the logical next step. If you’re using SAMSON, the integrative molecular design platform, good news: it’s built precisely for this.
This post walks you through the essentials of developing your own SAMSON Extension using the SAMSON SDK, and why this might transform your research or workflow.
Why create your own SAMSON Extension?
SAMSON offers a wide variety of ready-made Extensions developed by researchers worldwide. But if you have a specific modeling method, data visualization, or file format that’s not yet available, building your own Extension solves the problem without reinventing the wheel. By leveraging the existing SAMSON framework, you can:
- Wrap existing tools and algorithms you’ve already developed
- Create new editors or connectors to interactive services
- Build customized importers/exporters for specific file types
- Define new force fields or simulation methods easily
What do you need?
The main requirement is the SAMSON SDK (Software Development Kit), which you can download after signing in to SAMSON Connect. The SDK includes code templates for common components such as apps or editors, and is designed to accelerate development even for small teams or individual researchers.
Key capabilities of the SDK include:
- Templates for rapid development
- Multiplatform deployment (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Communication with third-party libraries or web services
- Built-in visualization for immediate feedback
Step-by-step overview
- Sign in at SAMSON Connect and access the SDK Download page.
- Install the SDK, following platform-specific instructions provided in the Developer Guide.
- Use code templates or start from a sample Extension to integrate your own functionality.
- Test your Extension directly in your existing SAMSON environment.
- Once validated, you can decide whether to keep the Extension for personal use, share it for free, or distribute it commercially via SAMSON Connect.
Distributing your Extension
After building your Extension, you can publish it to SAMSON Connect for others to use. SAMSON offers a flexible distribution model supported by Stripe, allowing developers to:
- Offer Extensions for free to the community
- Sell subscriptions for academia or industry with different pricing
- Even offer access to cloud-based services that your Extension may connect to
Here’s a sample view from the distribution interface:
This flexibility ensures your work finds the right audience—whether you’re an academic researcher looking to share a novel technique or a company offering scientific services.
Conclusion
Developing a SAMSON Extension opens the door to full customization and integration of your scientific workflow. Whether you’re automating repetitive tasks, integrating existing algorithms, or introducing new computation or visualization paradigms, the SAMSON SDK helps you do so efficiently.
To learn more, visit the official documentation page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON here.