Ensuring Compatibility for Seamless Molecular Modeling

For molecular modelers and developers extending the SAMSON platform, ensuring that SAMSON Extensions function smoothly with the SAMSON version installed is a critical issue. Having tools fail to load because of incompatible versions can disrupt workflows and delay important research. In this post, we'll delve into how SAMSON manages extension compatibility using its versioning system and how this ensures a smooth modeling experience.

Why Extension Version Compatibility Matters

SAMSON Extensions enrich your capabilities by integrating specialized tools directly into the platform. However, compatibility between these extensions and the core SAMSON version is essential. Without strict version checks, users risk encountering errors or missing functionality, particularly if an extension relies on features that are not present in their current version of SAMSON.

How SAMSON Ensures Compatibility

To ensure stability and reliability, SAMSON relies on a semantic versioning policy. Each version of SAMSON and its Software Development Kit (SDK) follows a format major.minor.patch. Here’s a brief refresher:

  • The major version changes with non-backward-compatible updates.
  • The minor version changes for backward-compatible feature updates.
  • The patch version updates with backward-compatible bug fixes.

When SAMSON starts up, it checks each installed SAMSON Extension's SDK version to determine compatibility. An extension can be loaded only if the following conditions are met:

  • The major version of the SDK used to build the SAMSON Extension matches SAMSON’s own major version.
  • The minor version of the SDK used is less than or equal to SAMSON’s minor version. This ensures newer SAMSON versions remain compatible with older, stable extensions.

Practical Example

Let's consider an example scenario:

Imagine a user has installed SAMSON version 1.7.8. A SAMSON Extension built with the SDK version 1.5.2 would be compatible and load successfully, as the major versions match and the minor version of the extension’s SDK (1.5) is smaller than SAMSON’s minor version (1.7).

If the extension developer updates the extension to SDK version 1.6.4 and publishes it on SAMSON Connect, the extension will still be compatible and automatically updated by SAMSON during the next startup. This process ensures that users always benefit from the latest improvements while maintaining stability.

However, if the developer builds a version of the SAMSON Extension with SDK version 2.0.0 while the user still has SAMSON 1.7.8, the extension cannot be updated. This is because the major versions (2 vs. 1) no longer align.

Best Practices for Molecular Modelers

To minimize disruptions and keep your tools up-to-date:

  • Regularly update SAMSON to benefit from the latest features and compatibility improvements.
  • Use the automatic update functionality to ensure SAMSON Extensions are updated seamlessly when compatible versions are released.

This consistent versioning system helps molecular modelers avoid compatibility pitfalls. It allows SAMSON Extensions to integrate fully into your workflow while providing you with confidence in their functionality.

To learn more about SAMSON versioning, visit the official documentation page.

SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Discover the platform and its tools by downloading SAMSON at SAMSON Connect.

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