Molecular modelers often run into situations where a software tool feels limiting. You might want to visualize your data in a particular way, run a new kind of simulation, or open a specific file format, but your tools just don’t support it out of the box. Custom coding or switching platforms isn’t ideal—often it’s time-consuming and error-prone.
If you’re using SAMSON, there’s a way around that.
Make SAMSON Work for Your Workflow
SAMSON uses a modular architecture built around the concept of Extensions. What this means is that you can customize your molecular modeling environment by picking the exact tools you need—without writing a single line of code. Think of it as plugging in new capabilities whenever you need them.
Extensions come in many different forms. Here are a few that might be of particular interest:
- Apps – Provide new functionalities, from cloud services to integrations with existing software tools.
- Editors – Modify and interact with molecular structures using intuitive tools like deformation tools, nanotube builders, or rigid-body transforms.
- Importers/Exporters – Work with more data formats than what’s available by default. For example, parsing or exporting PDB, XYZ, and more.
- Visual Models – Tailor how your data looks with new structure representations or visualizations such as electron density isosurfaces.
- Interaction Models – Add models for computing energies and forces, like elastic networks or simple spring systems.
How to Add or Remove Extensions
To manage your Extensions in SAMSON:
- Sign in to your account on SAMSON Connect.
- Visit the SAMSON Connect – Marketplace.
- Search for the Extension you need and click to add or remove it.
- Restart SAMSON if prompted, and you’re ready to go.
It’s really that simple. You essentially get to build your own molecular modeling workbench, piece by piece, focused entirely on your research needs.
Why This Matters
Molecular modeling is not one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re studying protein folding, material interfaces, or electronic structure, the tools you need vary widely. SAMSON Extensions let you adapt your modeling environment instantly. And as your research evolves, so can your setup—with just a few clicks.
It’s especially helpful in collaborative or multidisciplinary environments, where different project members may require different functionality from the same base platform.
Discover more about how SAMSON Extensions work and browse the full catalog of available modules by visiting the full documentation page: Extending SAMSON.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON at https://www.samson-connect.net.