An efficient way is provided to represent and exchange knowledge and/or partial knowledge across nodes when synchronizing between any two nodes. A first node sends a second node its knowledge and/or partial knowledge, including objects and versions of those objects. The second node compares its knowledge and/or partial knowledge with the knowledge and/or partial knowledge of the first node, and then sends the first node any latest versions of objects of which the first node is unaware. In addition, the second node sends its knowledge and/or partial knowledge to the first node. The first node then performs a similar object-by-object version comparison to determine any conflicts due to independent evolution of objects and any changes that should be sent to the second node in order to bring the objects of the second node up to date with the knowledge and/or partial knowledge of the first node.