Client side control of adaptive streaming

One embodiment includes implementing adaptive streaming by a switch manager application executed at a client device. The switch manager application can determine a respective weight for a plurality of switching rules. Each switching rule can include one or more criteria for generating a recommended quality level. Each weight can include data describing a reliability of the rule. The switch manager application can select, based at least partially on the respective weight of the at least one switching rule, at least one switching rule of the plurality of switching rules to generate a recommendation. Another embodiment includes the switch manager application generating a recommendation including a quality level and a confidence level from each of the plurality of switching rules. The switch manager application can determine a selected quality level based on the weights of the switching rules and the quality levels and confidence levels of the recommendations.