def sort_samples(self, stable=True, inplace=False, ascending=True):
kind = '<STR_LIT>'<EOL>if stable:<EOL><INDENT>kind = '<STR_LIT>'<EOL><DEDENT>return self.sort_index(axis=<NUM_LIT:1>, kind=kind, inplace=inplace,<EOL>ascending=ascending)<EOL>
Sort the columns of the matrix alphabetically by sample name.

        Parameters
        ----------
        stable: bool, optional
            Whether to use a stable sorting algorithm. [True]
        inplace: bool, optional
            Whether to perform the operation in place.[False]
        ascending: bool, optional
            Whether to sort in ascending order [True]

        Returns
        -------
        `ExpMatrix`
            The sorted matrix.