Task scheduling policy for limited memory systems

A system, method, and program product for scheduling applications in a data processing system. The method of the invention includes a step of monitoring memory availability within the data processing system during execution of one or more applications. The method further includes recording a memory usage history for one or more applications from which a memory requirement may be determined. A kernel scheduler is utilized to schedule a next application for execution in accordance with the memory availability and the determined memory requirements of the one or more monitored applications.