1. A method for retrieving data related to versions of files organized in a configuration, said method comprising: arranging a server device and one or more proxy devices so that each of said one or more proxy devices are between said server device and one or more clients; providing a repository at said server device for storing multiple versions of the same file and meta data comprising information about the organization and properties of said files into a versioned system, said server device controlling all changes to data in said repository; providing a server cache at said server device and a proxy cache at each of said one or more proxy devices for storing bulk data and meta data related to said versions of files, said bulk data comprising said versions themselves, said meta data comprising said information about the organization and properties of said files into a versioned system; registering at said server device respective proxy caches for said one or more proxy devices with a list of listeners maintained by said server device in order to update said proxy caches when changes are made at said server device to said data related to versions of files, said changes being controlled by only said server device; enabling said server device to transmit updates to said respective proxy caches and enabling said respective proxy caches to receive updates from said server device, said updates made according to changes made to said data related to versions of files according to what is currently stored by a respective one of said proxy caches to synchronize said proxy caches; enabling said respective proxy caches to be updated using said updates to thereby synchronize said respective proxy caches with said server device; enabling said one or more proxy devices to provide said updates to said one or more clients for synchronizing one or more client-based caches; a particular one of said one or more proxy devices receiving a request from one of said clients for one or more desired file versions or a set of meta data; if said one or more desired file versions or set of meta data is in said particular proxy device's proxy cache, returning said one or more desired filed versions or set of meta data to said one of said clients; if said one or more desired file versions or set of meta data is not in said particular proxy device's proxy cache, said particular proxy device forwarding said request to said server device, said server device obtaining said one or more desired file versions or set of meta data to said repository, and returning said one or more desired file versions or set of meta data to said particular proxy device, said particular proxy device obtaining from said server device said one or more desired file versions or set of meta data, and returning to said one of said clients said one or more desired file versions or set of meta data; and said particular proxy device forwarding a lock request to said server device on behalf of said one of said clients, and said server device receiving said lock request, whereby said lock request is for said desired file version and, if granted by said server device, permitting only said one of said clients to modify said desired file version.