For many researchers and developers in molecular modeling, one recurring challenge is adapting software tools to specific workflows. Whether you’re modeling new nanostructures, designing drug candidates, or visualizing complex biophysical systems, off-the-shelf features often cover only part of the task. The rest requires switching between tools, coding scripts, or reinventing the wheel. What if you could integrate custom functionality directly into your molecular modeling platform—without building the whole environment yourself?
This is exactly where SAMSON Extensions come in. If you’re using SAMSON, the molecular design platform, you probably already know you can download extra features from its extension-based architecture. But fewer users realize how easy it is to create their own extensions using the SAMSON SDK—saving time, customizing tools, and even offering them to others through the SAMSON Connect Marketplace.
Create Custom Functionality with the SAMSON SDK
The SAMSON Software Development Kit (SDK) allows you to develop your own extensions that integrate seamlessly with the platform. With the SDK, you can build apps, editors, force fields, or algorithms tailored to your exact needs. The SDK handles much of the heavy lifting—visualization, data structures, event handling—so you can focus on your scientific logic.
Here are a few common examples of what developers create with the SAMSON SDK:
- Custom importers for proprietary or niche file formats
- Simulation algorithms or optimization methods specific to certain molecular systems
- Apps that integrate SAMSON with in-house databases or external services
- Automated structure generation tools (e.g., nanotubes, polymers)
Faster Development with Templates and Integration
One major advantage of using the SDK is its use of templates and tight platform integration. You don’t need to reinvent the GUI or visualization logic—the SDK includes templates for common module types (apps, state updaters, interaction models, etc.). This accelerates development and ensures your tool behaves consistently across platforms.
It also means that SAMSON handles aspects like real-time updates in the viewport, 3D manipulation, and responsiveness to user events. As a developer, these are typically tedious parts to code from scratch in custom molecular applications. With SAMSON, you get them out of the box.
Distribute or Deploy Privately
One of the most flexible aspects is what happens after development. You can:
- Keep your extension private and deploy it across internal teams
- Make it publicly available for free to help the community
- Commercialize it with monthly or yearly subscriptions via SAMSON Connect using Stripe
Whether you’re in academia or industry, you have full control over access and distribution tiers. SAMSON Connect lets you reach other users who may benefit from your innovation—while managing permissions and plans from a single dashboard.
Getting Started: Resources Available
To begin developing a SAMSON Extension, start by downloading the SDK from the Download section of your SAMSON Connect account. You’ll find detailed steps, code examples, and a structured explanation of how to build and distribute your extensions in the Developer Guide.
Whether you’re extending a modeler’s toolkit or building a bridge between SAMSON and your own computational resources, extensions allow you to stay within a unified environment without compromising flexibility. Many researchers and developers use this to prototype algorithms rapidly, visualize new data types, or wrap legacy tools in user-friendly interfaces.
Learn more about building and distributing SAMSON Extensions.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON here: https://www.samson-connect.net.