Systems and methods of communicating platform-independent representation of source code

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a media player software application at a computing device, a first portion of a media stream;

initiating playback of the first portion of the media stream;

receiving a second portion of the media stream during the playback of the first portion of the media stream, the second portion of the media stream including a platform-independent representation of source code;

compiling the platform-independent representation of the source code to generate a platform-specific software component that is executable by the computing device; and

executing the platform-specific software component at the computing device during execution of the media player software application at the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the platform-independent representation is compiled without interrupting playback of the media stream at the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are received in accordance with a streaming protocol.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a game console, a set-top box, a television, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media player software application is part of an operating system of the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media player software application is downloaded to the computing device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the platform-independent representation comprises an abstract syntax tree (AST).

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the platform-specific software component is executed without interrupting playback of the media stream at the computing device.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the platform-specific software component comprises a plugin of the media player software application.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plugin comprises a social networking client that enables a user of the computing device to communicate via a social network without interrupting playback of the media stream at the computing device.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plugin enables a user of the computing device to communicate with a server associated with the media stream without interrupting display of the media stream at the computing device.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing the platform-specific software component at a memory of the computing device;

receiving a signal to re-execute the platform-specific software component;

retrieving the platform-specific software component from the memory; and

re-executing the platform-specific software component without re-compiling the platform-independent representation.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the signal is received as part of the media stream.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the signal is received as part of a second media stream.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deleting the platform-specific software component after execution of the platform-specific software component is complete.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the platform-independent representation is compiled by a compiler that is compatible with the computing device and that is part of the media player software application.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

conducting a streaming session with a destination device;

sending a media stream to the destination device during the streaming session;

compiling a platform-independent representation of source code to generate a platform-specific software component that is executable by the destination device; and

sending the platform-independent representation of the source code to the destination device during the streaming session.

18. A computer-readable storage device storing:

an installer package for a media player software application, wherein the installer package is executable by a processor of a computing device to perform operations comprising:

installing the media player software application at the computing device; and

installing a compiler at the computing device,

wherein the media player software application is executable by the processor to, during playback of a media stream, perform operations comprising:

receiving an abstract syntax tree (AST) in the media stream;

invoking the compiler to compile the AST to generate a platform-specific plugin; and

executing the platform-specific plugin.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 18 , wherein the compiler is part of the media player software application.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 18 , wherein the compiler is distinct from the media player software application.