One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates the operation of a client/server application while a client is online or offline. The system operates by receiving a request from an application at a client to synchronize data with a server. In response to the request, the system places the data in a resource, wherein the resource can be a file. Next, the system sends an acknowledgement to the application. The system then determines a protocol for synchronizing the resource with the server. Finally, the system queues the resource for synchronization with the server, or optionally synchronizes the resource with the server immediately.