The best kernel features, according to hackers
3 kernel features were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 2 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The two most recommended kernel features with the badge. Each figure is 2 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Preferred over zram
Compresses pages going to swap in RAM, cutting disk reads and writes; many people prefer it to zram and use it on low-RAM machines.
Makes low-memory systems usable
People recommend zram for compressed swap in RAM that beats disk swap on low-memory machines, though it runs out once its compressed space is full.
All 3 kernel features, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same kernel feature in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to kernel features that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
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