Have you ever wondered why the Linux mascot is a Penguin (or Penguin in English)? It is a very curious fact and still discussed today. all in the year 1996, many members of the “Linux-Kernel” mailing list were discussing creating a logo or mascot that would represent the Linux operating system. Many of the suggestions were parodies of the logo of a competing and very popular operating system (Welcome, Windows!). Others were monsters or aggressive animals. Understand!
Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux, ended up entering this debate by stating in a message that he was very fond of penguins. That was enough to end the discussion. After that, several attempts were made in a kind of contest for the image of a penguin to serve the purposes of Linux, until Larry Ewing suggested the figure of a "penguin holding up the world!.
In response, Linus Torvalds stated that he found it interesting that this penguin had a simple image: a penguin”little fat” and with a satisfied expression, as if he had just eaten a lot of fish. Torvalds also didn't find the idea of it being too aggressive or too forced, but the idea of a friendly penguin, the kind where kids ask, "Mom, can I have one of these too?”.
Even so, Torvalds also stressed that working in this way, people could create various modifications of this penguin. And that actually happens, practically. Also, when asked by users and the press about the why of penguins, Linus Torvalds replied that there was no reason in particular, but found them funny and even mentioned that he was pecked once by a “killer penguin” in Australia and was amazed at how the peck of such a seemingly harmless animal could be so painful.
And you, what do you think of this curiosity? Already knew?
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