Ensuring Seamless Compatibility of SAMSON Extensions.

For molecular modelers and developers creating or using SAMSON Extensions, compatibility between extensions and the SAMSON platform is a critical factor. Ensuring that extensions function properly across different versions of SAMSON can save hours of troubleshooting and prevent disruptions to your workflows.

How Compatibility is Managed

SAMSON follows a robust compatibility policy guided by semantic versioning. When SAMSON launches, it checks the version of the Software Development Kit (SDK) used to build each extension and verifies its compatibility with the SAMSON version. Extensions are loaded only if the SDK version aligns with the SAMSON version based on specific rules:

  • The major version numbers of both the SDK and SAMSON must be identical.
  • The minor version number of the SDK must be less than or equal to the minor version number of SAMSON.

This ensures that extensions built with a specific SDK version do not rely on APIs or features that are unavailable in the SAMSON version they are running on.

What Happens During Updates?

SAMSON continuously adapts to evolving molecular modeling needs by introducing new versions. Here’s an example scenario:

  • If you are using SAMSON version 1.7.8 and have an extension built with SDK version 1.5.2, the extension will run seamlessly since the major version numbers (1) match, and the minor version of the SDK (5) is smaller than the minor version of SAMSON (7).
  • If a later version of the extension (e.g., SDK 1.6.4) becomes available and you’re connected to the internet, SAMSON will automatically update to the newer extension version, as long as it’s compatible with SAMSON 1.7.8.
  • However, if a new version of SAMSON—say 2.0.0—is released and an extension developer builds a version using SDK 2.0.0, it will not load on SAMSON 1.7.8 due to the difference in major version numbers.

These rules are designed to keep workflows stable and extensions functional while encouraging timely updates to benefit from the latest features.

Automatic Updates

One of SAMSON’s helpful features is its ability to automatically update extensions when compatible versions become available on SAMSON Connect. This ensures you’re always working with the latest tools without needing to manually track and install updates.

Best Practices

The seamless compatibility management in SAMSON is a great advantage, but following these tips can further enhance your experience:

  • Regularly update SAMSON: Staying up-to-date ensures access to the latest features and improvements.
  • Use reliable extensions: Extensions built with consistent versioning practices are more likely to be compatible and upgradable.
  • Monitor version numbers: Knowing the SDK version used for your extensions can help troubleshoot issues.

Learn More

To dive deeper into the compatibility policies and how SAMSON handles versioning, consult the full documentation at this link.

SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Start exploring this powerful molecular design platform today by downloading it at SAMSON Connect.

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