A molecular modeling task rarely stays in one place. You may need to prepare a structure, run a workflow, or bring in a tool that connects SAMSON to software or a service outside the platform. When you are unsure where a capability belongs—or where to look for it—it is easy to spend time searching instead of working on the model.
SAMSON apps offer one place to begin that search. Apps add workflows to SAMSON, and you can find them under Home > Apps. SAMSON includes some apps by default; additional apps are available through SAMSON Connect.
What an app can represent
“App” describes a family of SAMSON Extensions, not one particular kind of molecular task. An app may connect SAMSON to an external executable or web service, wrap existing code, or provide functionality built with the SAMSON Application Programming Interface (API). That range is useful, but it also means the word app alone does not tell you exactly what a specific app does. Check the app’s own information before relying on it for a particular step in your workflow.
A practical way to find the right starting point
- Name the task. Write down what you want to accomplish—for example, whether you need to add a workflow to SAMSON or connect it with another tool. A clear task is a better search starting point than browsing extension names at random.
- Look in the app area. Open Home > Apps to see the apps available in SAMSON. This is the direct place to start when you are looking for app-based workflows.
- Check SAMSON Connect for more. If the available apps do not suit your need, SAMSON Connect is the place to find additional extensions and manage Marketplace access and installed extensions.
- Check whether you may be looking for another extension family. Apps are only one part of the SAMSON extension landscape. The documentation also lists editors, importers, and exporters. If your need sounds more like working in an editor or handling file import or export, consult those reference pages as well.
- Separate using an app from building one. If you want to use an existing workflow, start with the user documentation for apps and extensions. If you want to create an app, the developer documentation points to the extension-generation guide and the Documentation center.
Why this distinction helps
Knowing where apps fit can make extension discovery less frustrating. Instead of treating every extension as interchangeable, begin with the job you need done, then check the relevant extension family and where it is available. And if the task requires a connection to an external executable or web service, or uses wrapped code, the app category is a sensible place to investigate—without assuming that every app has the same purpose.
This page is a reference for the app extension family. For details on finding, installing, or developing extensions, see the SAMSON Apps documentation.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.