Feature propagation

1. A method of propagating software over a social network through an instant message client from a sending user to a receiving user, comprising:

initiating an instant messaging session between the sending user and the receiving user;

determining, with a first processor at a first client of the sending user and a second processor at a second client of the receiving user, if a first operating environment of said first client is compatible with a second operating environment of said second client;

in response to a determination that said first operating environment is compatible with said second operating environment, comparing at least a first feature on a first manifest of features stored on a first memory of said first client with a second manifest of features stored on a second memory of said second client;

in response to a determination that said at least a first feature on said first instant message client is different from or not available on said second manifest of features, determining a first reputation score of an author of said at least a first feature, said first reputation score being based upon first predetermined factors; and

approving propagation of said at least a first feature to said at least a second client when said first reputation score is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value.

2. The method of propagating software of claim 1 , wherein said in response to a determination that said at least a first feature on said first instant message client is different from or not available on said second manifest of features, further comprises determining a second reputation score of said sending user, said second reputation score being based upon second predetermined factors.

3. The method of propagating software of claim 2 , further comprising approving propagation of said at least a first feature to said second client when said second reputation score is greater than or equal to a second predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing a rating system for said at least a first feature within the social network.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said rating system further comprises an indication of applicability of said at least a first feature to social and non-social communities.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said rating system further comprises a score of said at least a first feature based on third predetermined factors applicable to said at least a first feature.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said rating system further comprises adjusting said score after use of said at least a first feature within the social network.

8. A system for propagating software over a social network through an instant message client from a sending user to a receiving user, comprising:

a processor; and

memory connected to the processor, wherein the memory is encoded with instructions and wherein the instructions when executed comprise:

instructions for initiating an instant messaging session between the sending user and the receiving user;

instructions for determining, at a first client of the sending user and at a second client of the receiving user, if a first operating environment of said first client is compatible with a second operating environment of said second client;

in response to a determination that said first operating environment is compatible with said second operating environment, instructions for comparing at least a first feature on a first manifest of features stored on said first client with a second manifest of features stored on said second client;

in response to a determination that said at least a first feature on said first instant message client is different from or not available on said second manifest of features, instructions for determining a first reputation score of an author of said at least a first feature, said first reputation score being based upon first predetermined factors; and

instructions for approving propagation of said at least a first feature to said second client when said first reputation score is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein said in response to a determination that said at least a first feature on said first client is different from or not available on said second manifest of features, further comprises instructions for determining a second reputation score of said sending user, said second reputation score being based upon second predetermined factors.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising instructions for approving propagation of said at least a first feature to said second client when said second reputation score is greater than or equal to a second predetermined value.

11. The system of claim 6 , further comprising instructions for storing a rating system for said at least a first feature within the social network.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said rating system further comprises instructions for indicating applicability of said at least a first feature to social and non-social communities.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein said rating system further comprises instructions for scoring said at least a first feature based on third predetermined factors applicable to said at least a first feature.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said rating system further comprises instructions for adjusting said score after use of said at least a first feature within the social network.

15. A computer program product for propagating software over a social network through an instant message client from a sending user to a receiving user, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code configured to initiate an instant messaging session between the sending user and the receiving user;

computer readable program code configured to determine if a first operating environment of said first client is compatible with a second operating environment of said second client;

in response to a determination that said first operating environment is compatible with said second operating environment, computer readable program code configured to compare at least a first feature on a first manifest of features of said first client with a second manifest of features on said second client;

in response to a determination that said at least a first feature on said first instant message client is different from or not available on said second manifest of features, computer readable program code configured to determine a first reputation score of an author of said at least a first feature, said first reputation score being based upon first predetermined factors; and

computer readable program code configured to approve propagation of said at least a first feature to said at least a second client when said first reputation score is greater than or equal to a first predetermined value.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein said in response to a determination that said at least a first feature on said first client is different from or not available on said second manifest of features, further comprising computer readable program code configured to determine a second reputation score of said sending user, said second reputation score being based upon second predetermined factors.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising computer readable program code configured to approve propagation of said at least a first feature to said second client when said second reputation score is greater than or equal to a second predetermined value.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising computer readable program code configured to store a rating system for said at least a first feature within the social network.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein said rating system further comprises computer readable program code configured to indicate applicability of said at least a first feature to social and non-social communities.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 , further comprising computer readable program code configured to score said at least a first feature based on third predetermined factors.