A molecular modeling task rarely stays inside one neat box. You might need to open a particular file format, adjust a structure in a specific way, run a calculation, or inspect the result with a specialized visual representation. When the tool you need is missing, it can be tempting to change your whole workflow—or start writing code. In SAMSON, a useful first step is to identify what kind of job is missing and look for an extension designed to do it.
SAMSON Extensions are modules added to SAMSON through SAMSON Connect. They can provide different kinds of functionality, so the most effective search starts with the problem, not with a long list of extension names. Is the obstacle importing data, editing a model, calculating forces, or visualizing a result? Each points toward a different extension family.
Match the missing step to an extension type
- Need to open or save a file? Look for an importer or exporter. Importers parse files—for example, PDB or electron-density files—while exporters write document content to formats such as PDB or XYZ.
- Need to change or create something interactively? An editor may be the right fit. Editors respond to mouse and keyboard events and can provide tools such as selection, structure deformation, rigid-body transforms, or model generation. They appear in the left-side menu of the viewport.
- Need a particular calculation or simulation behavior? Look at interaction models and state updaters. Interaction models compute energies and forces; state updaters advance simulation states and can implement methods such as minimization, Monte Carlo, or molecular dynamics.
- Need a different way to inspect results? Visual models provide representations in the viewport. Examples include protein secondary structure, an electron-density isosurface, or volume rendering of an electrostatics field.
- Need a larger workflow or connection to another tool? An app may provide new functionality, connect to an external executable or web service, or integrate existing code with SAMSON.
This distinction is useful because two extensions may both seem relevant while solving different parts of a workflow. For instance, an importer helps bring data into a document; a visual model changes how data is displayed. A simulation method and a viewport tool also serve different purposes. Naming the step that is actually blocked makes it easier to search and evaluate what you need.
Find and try extensions in a focused way
Sign in to your SAMSON Connect account and open the Marketplace to choose extensions. SAMSON downloads a set of extensions by default the first time it starts, and you can add more later. Once an app is available, you can start it from Home > Apps or search for it in the Find everything box at the top of SAMSON. Editors are accessed from the viewport’s left-side menu.
Before adding an extension, write down the task you want it to support and the point in your workflow where you need it. Then check whether its type fits that task: file handling, interactive editing, calculation, simulation, visualization, or a broader app workflow. After adding it, try it on a representative document and confirm that it addresses the specific gap. This small check can prevent the common frustration of installing a tool that sounds relevant but does a different job.
When the needed tool does not exist
If no existing extension fits, SAMSON also supports development. The SAMSON SDK is available from the Download page after signing in to SAMSON Connect. It provides templates and SDK features for developing extensions such as apps and editors, as well as force fields and services. This can be a way to integrate existing code or create new functionality while using SAMSON for visualization and data management. The Developer Guide explains how to install the SDK and create or distribute an extension.
Extensions can also be distributed through SAMSON Connect. Developers can make them free or offer subscriptions, including different monthly or yearly tiers. That means a tool built for a specialized workflow can be shared with other users rather than remaining an isolated piece of code.
The practical takeaway: describe the missing step first, then choose the extension family that matches it. That gives you a clearer route whether you need to import a file, edit a structure, run a model, view results, or build on existing software.
Learn more about extending SAMSON.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.