From Installation to First Molecule: A Calm Start with SAMSON

Installing molecular modeling software is only the first hurdle. The next questions often arrive together: Does my computer meet the requirements? Where do I launch the application? What should I do first—and why is it downloading extensions? A short, ordered setup can turn that uncertainty into a practical first session.

Before you install: check the essentials

Start by confirming that your operating system and hardware are supported. This is especially useful before troubleshooting a failed installation: a graphics or dependency issue may be a platform requirement rather than a problem with the installation steps. The Requirements and platforms guide covers operating-system support, hardware expectations, and Linux dependencies.

Then follow the dedicated installation guide. It describes the installer workflow, including sign-in and key entry. Keeping the requirements check and installation instructions as separate steps makes it easier to identify where a problem occurs.

Launch it the way your system expects

After installation, use the standard app launcher first. On Windows, open SAMSON from the Start menu; searching for “SAMSON” can help you find it. On Mac, use Launchpad or the Applications folder. On Linux, you can use the Apps dashboard or launch the application script from its installation folder.

For Linux, the documentation gives this command when run from the SAMSON Binaries folder:

If you regularly start SAMSON from a terminal, an alias can save you from typing the full path each time. Add an alias to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zprofile, using the installation path shown in the documentation:

Open a new terminal afterward and run samson. If your installation uses a different folder, make sure the alias points to the script in your own installation directory. For Linux issues involving AMD/ATI graphics cards, consult the relevant Troubleshooting section.

What happens on the first launch?

SAMSON has an open architecture that can be adapted with Extensions, including apps, editors, controllers, models, and parsers. These extensions can support tasks such as building models, running calculations and simulations, visualizing results, and handling particular workflows.

On the first start, SAMSON downloads a set of default Extensions from SAMSON Connect. That download is part of getting the platform ready to use. Later, you can sign in, visit the Marketplace, and choose additional Extensions that fit your work. If you want to manage extensions in more detail or explore the software development route, the Extending SAMSON guide is the next stop.

Choose one next step—not ten

Once SAMSON opens, pick the next guide based on the task in front of you:

• Need to understand the interface? Start with First look.
• Ready to open a structure? Follow Loading molecules.
• Looking for account, key, or Marketplace information? Visit SAMSON Connect.
• Prefer a compact overview? Open the Quick Start Guide, which introduces the interface, navigation, documents, visualizations, simulations, and help routes.

This simple choice prevents a common onboarding trap: trying to learn every feature before completing one useful task. For a first session, orient yourself in the interface, open a structure, and then look for the tools relevant to your workflow.

The current public version listed in the documentation is 2026 R1. For version-number details, see Versioning. If installation, graphics setup, or launch does not behave as expected, use the Troubleshooting guide rather than guessing at fixes.

For the full setup details and operating-system-specific instructions, learn more in the SAMSON Getting Started documentation.

Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.