Getting a molecular modeling platform ready can involve more than downloading an installer. Before you can focus on a structure or a simulation, you need to check whether your computer is supported, complete installation, find the right way to launch the application, and work out what to do next. This short setup path helps make those first steps less uncertain.
Start by answering three questions: Can my computer run SAMSON? How do I install and launch it on my operating system? And once it opens, where should I go next? Taking them in order can save time spent troubleshooting a problem that is really a platform or setup issue.
1. Check the platform before installing
Begin with the Requirements and platforms guide. It covers operating-system support, hardware expectations, and Linux dependencies. This is especially useful if you are setting up a workstation you do not administer yourself or are unsure whether its graphics setup will work.
Then follow the installation guide for the installer workflow, sign-in step, and key entry. If installation or graphics setup does not behave as expected, consult Troubleshooting rather than repeating the same installation steps without checking the cause.
2. Launch it the way your system expects
Once installed, use the launch route that matches your operating system. The documentation lists these options:
- Windows: Find SAMSON from the Start menu or by searching for it. 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 installation folder is
$HOME/Applications/SAMSON.app/. - Linux: Launch it from the Apps dashboard, or open a terminal in the SAMSON installation folder and run
./SAMSON-Core.sh. The documented folder is~/OneAngstrom/SAMSON-Application/11.0.0/Binaries.
On Linux, you can also add an alias to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zprofile, then open a new terminal and run samson:
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alias samson='$HOME/OneAngstrom/SAMSON-Application/11.0.0/Binaries/SAMSON-Core.sh' |
If you encounter a graphics issue on Linux with an AMD/ATI card, the documentation points to the Linux AMD section of Troubleshooting.
3. Know what happens on first launch
SAMSON has an open architecture that can be adapted through Extensions, including apps, editors, controllers, models, and parsers. These can support tasks such as building models, performing calculations, running simulations, and visualizing results.
On the first launch, SAMSON downloads a set of default Extensions from SAMSON Connect. Later, you can sign in, open the Marketplace, and choose Extensions for your workflow. You do not need to explore every available option before getting started: first confirm that the platform launches, then look for extensions when you have a clearer idea of what you need. For more detail, see Extending SAMSON.
4. Pick a useful next step
After launch, choose the guide that matches your immediate goal. For a quick orientation to the interface, visit First look: the interface. To open a structure and understand documents, go to Loading molecules. If you need account, download, key, or shared-resource information, visit SAMSON Connect.
The current public version listed in the documentation is 2026 R1. For a compact introduction to the interface, navigation, documents, visualizations, simulations, and help routes, use the Quick Start Guide.
For installation details and the complete onboarding path, read the SAMSON Getting Started documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.