In at least one embodiment of stream processing in a data processing system cluster, a driver requests, from a cluster manager, execution of a first task within a job including a plurality of tasks, as well as a first quantity of resources of the cluster to support execution of the task. At completion of execution of the first task by the cluster, the driver retains for a second task among the plurality of tasks at least a portion of the resources allocated to the first task by the cluster manager. The driver determines a second quantity of the resources to retain for the second task based on a relative priority of the job to other jobs in the cluster and efficiency of the cluster manager in allocating resources to the first task.