Collaborative authoring

A first computing device associated with a first user, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the first computing device to:
• access a first unit of data within a document;
• set a lock on the first unit of data within the document;
• receive a first edit to the first unit of data;
• and
• receive a second edit to a second unit of data, wherein the lock is automatically extended to include at least the second unit of data, and wherein the lock prevents the first unit of data and the second unit of data from being edited at a second computing device,
• receive a third edit at a third unit of data from a second computing device, the third edit being done by a second user associated with the second computing device;
• automatically provide an annotation identifying a name of the second user displayed within the document at the third unit of data, wherein the annotation indicates that the document is being edited by the second user at the third unit of data within the document.

A method for collaborative authoring of a document, the method comprising:

• accessing, by a first computing device, a first unit of data within the document;
• receiving, from the first computing device, a first edit to the first unit of data;
• automatically setting a lock on the first unit of data within the document;
• receiving, from the first computing device, a second edit to a second unit of data;
• automatically extending the lock to include at least the second unit of data, wherein the lock prevents the first unit of data and the second unit of data from being edited at a second computing device;
• receiving, from the first computing device, a third edit to the first unit of data;
• and
• automatically releasing the lock on at least the second unit of data
• receiving a fourth edit at a fourth unit of data from the second computing device at the first computing device, the fourth edit being done by a second user associated with the second computing device;
• automatically providing, at the first computing device, an annotation identifying a name of the second user displayed within the document at the fourth unit of data, wherein the annotation indicates that the document is being edited by the second user at the fourth unit of data within the document.