Linux 3.8's features

Linus Torvalds has announced the first pre-release version of Linux 3.8, releasing it on the "longest night of the year". As previously reported, it includes support for the Flash-Friendly File System (F2FS), which has been designed for use on flash storage devices such as USB flash drives, memory cards, and internal storage in devices such as cameras, tablets and smartphones.

The developers have also merged a number of basic core functions developed under the "balancenuma" name. These are aimed at enabling future kernels to automatically keep processes and the memory areas they are using in close proximity. This is important for optimum performance on today's popular multiprocessor systems with NUMA (Non-Uniform Memory Access). Further improvements likely to be merged in Linux 3.9 and later versions will significantly improve this automated placement and will build on the foundations merged in 3.8.

Reference: http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/1413835