1. A machine implemented system that at least one of detects, launches, or installs client applications on client machines, comprising: a component that receives from an interface a request to launch or install a client application, the component configured to determine whether an agent string affiliated with the client application is associated with the request, the component further configured to determine whether a client machine that provides the request at least one of includes or has persisted a cookie, the component further configured to determine whether the client machine has at least one of persisted or been associated with a MIME type, the component further configured to distribute a formatted document affiliated with the client application and to cause the client application to commence execution on the client machine in response to detection of at least one of the agent string, the cookie, or the MIME type, the component further configured to distribute an executable file associated with the client application in response to a failure to detect the agent string, the cookie, and the MIME type, execution of the executable file at least one of generates the agent string, generates the cookie, or registers a MIME type handler.