A molecular modeling task can stall before the science begins: you know the software needs a particular capability, but you are not sure which extension provides it, whether it supports your computer, or how to install it without leaving behind tools you no longer use. SAMSON Connect’s Marketplace brings extension discovery and management together. A little planning can make the process clearer and easier to repeat.
Start by checking compatibility
Before adding an extension, open its Marketplace page and review its description, authors, supported operating systems, available extension versions, and the SAMSON versions it supports. This simple check helps you avoid choosing an extension that does not match your operating system or current installation. If you are comparing options, note the capabilities you need and check each extension against the same criteria.
Understand how the extension is offered
Extensions may be included with your current plan, freely available to add, or offered through a subscription. The available SAMSON functionality and the number of free extensions can depend on your plan, so check the plan details if an option is unavailable or its access is unclear.
For a free extension, sign in to SAMSON Connect and select Add on its page. The extension will be marked as added. After you restart SAMSON, it downloads and installs automatically. In other words, adding it on the website is not the final step: plan for a restart before expecting to use it.
Evaluate subscription extensions before committing
If an extension is offered by subscription, you can request a trial or subscribe to a monthly or yearly plan. A trial does not require credit card information, which makes it a useful way to assess whether the extension fits your work before choosing a subscription. If you have academic status, an academic plan may also be available.
Keep track of which extensions you are trying and which you have subscribed to. Their status is shown on SAMSON Connect, and you can review subscriptions under Account > Settings > View my subscriptions. This is especially helpful when you return to a project after a break and need to understand which tools are available through your account.
Remove what you no longer need
For a free extension, sign in and open its Marketplace page, either through the Marketplace or through Account > Settings > View my extensions. Hover over the Added button; it changes to Remove. Select it to remove the extension from your installation. The change takes effect in SAMSON after a restart.
Removing a free extension does not erase its listing from your account’s extension view. It remains visible there, so you can find and add it again later. For subscription extensions, use View my subscriptions to manage them; after a subscribed extension is removed, restart SAMSON for the change to take effect.
A practical checklist
- Check the extension description, operating system support, and SAMSON version compatibility.
- Confirm whether the extension is included, free to add, or subscription-based.
- Use a no-card trial to evaluate a subscription extension when available.
- Restart SAMSON after adding or removing an extension.
- Review your extensions and subscriptions in your account when your toolset changes.
This turns extension setup into a manageable part of preparing a modeling workflow: check compatibility first, choose the appropriate access option, and keep your installed tools relevant to the work at hand. For more details on SAMSON Connect, visit the original documentation page.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.