On-demand file synchronization

A client device in communication with a server having a document management system in communication with an additional client device, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a computer-readable storage medium operable to store at least a file;
• one or more applications executable by the one or more processors to modify the file stored on the computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• a document management agent executable by the one or more processors, responsive to the client device modifying the file and saving the modified file to the computer-readable storage medium, to:
• send a first editing request to the document management system to edit the file locally maintained in a file system at the client device;
• receive a lock from the document management system to enable the client device to edit the file;
• send a synchronization intent message to the document management system, in response to receiving the lock, to notify the document management system that the file is modified;
• send to the document management system an indication that the client device has relinquished the lock, wherein a document management agent does not send any portion of the modified file as part of the synchronization intent message and relinquishing the lock prior to receiving a peer-to-peer communication for the modified file from the document management system;
• and
• receive a message from the document management system, in response to the document management system receiving a second editing request from the additional client device, to initiate peer-to-peer communication for transferring the modified file directly to the additional client device.