Applications Editor(s):

SAMP is a messaging protocol that enables astronomy software tools to interoperate and communicate. 1 IVOA members have recognised that building a monolithic tool that attempts to fulfil all the requirements of all users is impractical, and it is a better use of our limited resources to enable individual tools to work together better. One element of this is defining common file formats for the exchange of data between different applications. Another important component is a messaging system that enables the applications to share data and take advantage of each other’s function-ality. SAMP is intended to build on the success of a prior messaging protocol, PLASTIC, which has been in use since 2006 in over a dozen astronomy applications and has proven popular with users and de-velopers. SAMP is an IVOA-endorsed standard that builds on this success. It is also intended to form a framework for more general messaging requirements. Status of this Document This is an IVOA Proposed Recommendation made available for public review. Comments on this document, for consideration at the next version, should be posted on the RFC page a