download page for geoserver and extensions --> http://geoserver.org/release/2.8.x/
release notes may be found here --> http://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/jira/secure/ReleaseNote.jspa?projectId=10000&version=10602
release notes may be found here --> http://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/jira/secure/ReleaseNote.jspa?projectId=10000&version=10602