Getting a molecular modeling platform running can involve more than clicking “Install.” You may need to check whether your computer is supported, complete sign-in or key steps, find the right launcher for your operating system, and decide what to do when the application first opens. Sorting these out in the right order can save time—and help you get to your actual modeling work with fewer detours.
This practical first-launch checklist is based on the SAMSON onboarding workflow. It is designed to help you move from “Will it run?” to “What should I open next?” without treating installation, launch, and learning the interface as one confusing task.
1. Check compatibility before installing
Start with the Requirements and platforms guide. Check operating-system support and hardware expectations, and review the listed Linux dependencies if you use Linux. This is a useful first step because graphics or dependency issues are easier to investigate before you are midway through an installation.
Then follow Install SAMSON for the installer workflow, including sign-in and key entry. If setup or graphics do not behave as expected, use the Troubleshooting guide rather than guessing at changes to your system.
2. Find the right way to launch it
Once installed, use the route that fits your operating system:
- Windows: Search for SAMSON from the Start menu. The documented executable path is
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
$HOME/Applications/SAMSON.app/. - Linux: Launch it from the Apps dashboard, or open a terminal in the SAMSON Binaries folder and run
./SAMSON-Core.sh. The documented folder is~/OneAngstrom/SAMSON-Application/11.0.0/Binaries.
If you launch SAMSON often on Linux, the documentation also shows how to create a terminal alias:
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alias samson='$HOME/OneAngstrom/SAMSON-Application/11.0.0/Binaries/SAMSON-Core.sh' |
After saving the alias in ~/.bashrc or ~/.zprofile, open a new terminal and run samson. Installation paths can depend on the version or installation choices, so use the folder on your own computer if it differs from the example.
3. Don’t mistake a blank starting point for a dead end
On its first launch, SAMSON downloads a set of default SAMSON Extensions from SAMSON Connect. Extensions add different kinds of functionality, including apps, editors, controllers, models, and parsers. Later, you can sign in, browse the Marketplace, and choose extensions for your workflow. You do not need to explore every extension before getting oriented.
For a first session, pick one goal: understand the interface, open a structure, or learn where downloads and account resources live. The matching next step is easier to find when you start with a specific question:
- For interface orientation, open First look: the interface.
- To open a structure, go to Loading molecules.
- For a compact overview of navigation, documents, visualizations, simulations, and help, use the Quick Start Guide.
- For accounts, keys, Marketplace access, and shared resources, visit SAMSON Connect.
A simple setup sequence
- Confirm your system requirements.
- Install SAMSON and complete the sign-in and key steps.
- Launch it using your operating system’s usual app route.
- Choose one next step based on what you want to do first.
- If launch or graphics cause trouble, consult troubleshooting—especially the Linux AMD/ATI section if relevant.
SAMSON’s current version, as stated in the documentation, is 2026 R1. For the complete onboarding page and its links, learn more in the SAMSON Getting Started documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.