Server - client negotiations in a multi-version messaging environment

Disclosed is a method for selecting one of a plurality of versions of a software component of a message queuing software product to perform a task. One or more rules describing one or more characteristics of the plurality of versions of the software component is provided. Responsive to a determination that the rule applies to the task to be performed: a list of the plurality of versions of the message queuing software product is obtained, it is checked whether the software component of the one of the plurality of versions of the message queuing software product is available for use; and the most preferred version of the message queuing software component available is used to perform the task. Responsive to a determination that none of the rules apply to the task to be performed, the task is performed with the most preferred version of the message queuing software component.