An improved method and system for accessing data from a semaphore in a computer system, through the use of a software component in an application. The method may involve multiple software components in a corresponding multiple of applications in a corresponding multiple of computer systems. In that case, one or more requests to perform a locked read-modify-write operation on the data comprised in the semaphore may be received from one or more of the multiple software components. When multiple requests are received, the multiple requests may be stored in a queue, and processed sequentially. The corresponding multiple of applications may use the semaphore to synchronize operation of the applications. The multiple of computer systems and the computer memory may be connected through a network (e.g., the Internet). Accessing data from a semaphore in a computer system may include publishing or writing data to the semaphore.