Tux
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[[Image:Tux.png|thumb|180px|right|Tux, as originally drawn by Larry Ewing]]
'''Tux''' (also known as '''Tux the [[Penguin]]''') is the official [[mascot]] of the [[Linux kernel]].
==Origins==
The concept of the [[Linux]] mascot being a [[penguin]] came from [[Linus Torvalds]], the creator of [[Linux]]. Tux was created by [[Larry Ewing]] in 1996 after an initial suggestion made by [[Alan Cox]] <ref>[http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/9605/0237.html Re: Linux logo]</ref> and further refined by Linus Torvalds on the [[Linux kernel mailing list]]<ref>[http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/9605/0855.html Re: Linux Logo prototype]</ref>. Linus took his inspiration from a photograph<ref>[ftp://ftp.cs.helsinki.fi/pub/Software/Linux/Kernel/v1.3/ccpenguin.jpg The photo] that inspired [[Linus Torvalds]]</ref> he found on an [[File Transfer Protocol|FTP]] site<ref>[http://lkml.org/lkml/1996/5/6/44 Re: Linux logo]</ref>, showing a penguin [[figurine]] looking strangely like the [[Creature Comforts]] characters made by [[Nick Park]].<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxyvs1miQM0&mode=related&search= Creature Comforts: I ate so much] on [[YouTube]]</ref> The first person to call the penguin "Tux" was James Hughes, who said that it stood for "(T)orvalds (U)ni(X)"<ref>[http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/9606.1/0175.html Re: Let's name the penguin! (was: Re: Linux 2.0 really _is_ released..)]</ref>. However, many people observe that Tux is also an abbreviation of [[tuxedo]], the outfit which springs to mind when they see a penguin.
Tux was originally designed as a submission for a Linux [[logo]] contest. Three such competitions took place; Tux won none of them. This is why Tux is formally known as the Linux ''mascot'' and not the ''logo''.<REF>[http://www.sjbaker.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_History_of_Tux_the_Linux_Penguin The History of Tux the Linux Penguin]</REF> Pictures of some of the other contestants can be found [http://cs.earlham.edu/~jeremiah/linux-pix/linux-logo.html here]. Tux was created<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~lewing/linux/notes.html|title=Notes on creation|author=Larry Ewing|accessdate=2007-07-31}}</ref> by Larry Ewing using the first publicly released<ref>{{cite book |last= Bunks |first=Carey |title= Grokking the GIMP |year=2000 |publisher= New Riders |isbn=0735709246 |url=http://gug.sunsite.dk/docs/Grokking-the-GIMP-v1.0/node14.html }} </ref> version (0.54) of [[GIMP]], a [[free software]] graphics package. It was released by him under the following condition:
:''Permission to use and/or modify this image is granted provided you acknowledge me lewing@isc.tamu.edu and The GIMP if someone asks.'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~lewing/linux/|title=Linux 2.0 Penguins|author=Larry Ewing|accessdate=2006-06-25}}</ref>
[[Image:Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) -Adelaide Zoo.jpg|right|thumb|150px|A [[Little Penguin]], also known as the Fairy Penguin in Australia and the Blue Penguin in New Zealand, inspired Torvalds to suggest using a penguin as the Linux mascot.]]
According to Jeff Ayers, Linus Torvalds had a "fixation for flightless, fat waterfowl" and Torvalds claims to have contracted "penguinitis" after being gently nibbled by a penguin: "Penguinitis makes you stay awake at nights just thinking about penguins and feeling great love towards them." Torvalds' supposed illness is of course a joke, but he really was bitten by a [[Little Penguin]] on a visit to the [[National Zoo & Aquarium]], [[Canberra]], [[Australia]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linux.org.au/linux/tux|title="Tux" the Aussie Penguin|publisher=Linux Australia|accessdate=2006-06-25}}</ref>. Torvalds was looking for something fun and sympathetic to associate with Linux, and a slightly fat penguin sitting down after having had a great meal perfectly fitted the bill.
In an interview Linus commented on the penguin bite.<ref>[http://apcmag.com/7017/linus_torvalds_talks_future_of_linux_page_3 Linus Torvalds talks future of Linux (page 3) | APC Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <blockquote>''Linus: I've been to Australia several times, these days mostly for Linux.Conf.Au. But my first trip - and the one when I was bitten by a ferocious Fairy Penguin: you really should keep those things locked up! - was in 93 or so, talking about Linux for the Australian Unix Users Group.''</blockquote>
Tux has become iconic for Linux, with one British Linux user group adopting a live [[African Penguin]] at [[Bristol Zoo]] on the occasion of Linus Torvalds' birthday.
==Appearance==
Tux does not accurately portray any specific one of the nineteen species of penguin, although he somewhat resembles an [[Adelie penguin|Adelie]] or perhaps a [[Gentoo penguin]]. He is often dressed or portrayed differently<ref>[http://chl.be/mascots/#derived_tux List of all derived Tux mascot]</ref>, depending on context; for example, when representing the [[PaX]], a Linux security [[Patch (computing)|patch]], he wears a [[helmet]] and brandishes an [[axe]] and [[shield]], and his eyes are red. Recently, Tux has been redrawn to blend more appropriately into "crystalized" desktop themes.
===QuickTime penguin controversy===
[[Image:Qt-noqt2.png|thumb|right|120px|Modified QuickTime penguin used to represent Tux]]
Some people believe that the old [[QuickTime]] penguin is inspired by Tux and is a genuine [[free content|free]] image. This is not the case; the image is [[copyright]]ed by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] and not available as free content. Some free and [[open source software]] projects still use a modified version of this penguin, without the QuickTime logo, including [[Gentoo Linux]].
<center>
<gallery caption="Tux Revision History" perrow="3">
Image:Crystal_128_penguin.png|Tux [[Commons:Category:Crystal icons|Crystal]] 1st revision
Image:Tux-G2.png|Tux [[Commons:Category:Crystal icons|Crystal]] 2nd revision
Image:Pax tux.png|PaX version of Tux
Image:Tux.svg|High-quality vectorized Tux
Image:Tux-simple.svg|Simple vectorized Tux
Image:NewTux.svg|Crystallized Tux
</gallery>
</center>
==Gown and Penny==
In some games that star Tux, a desire for more gender neutrality has resulted in allowing the players to play as either Tux or his female friend "Gown".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tuxaqfh.sf.net | title=Tux the Penguin - A Quest for Herring}}</ref> Gown is variously depicted as being a pink version of Tux (eg ''XTux'') or as having a somewhat less fat appearance and wearing items of clothing such as a short skirt and a hair bow (eg ''TuxKart'' and ''Quest for Herring''). In ''SuperTux'' and ''SuperTuxKart'', there is a different female penguin called "Penny" who is purple and white. Tux's relationship with Penny is comparable to Mario's relationship with Princess Peach as seen in Super Mario Bros.
==Uses==
In some [[Linux distribution]]s, Tux greets the user during [[booting]], with [[multi-processor]] systems displaying multiple Tux characters. [[User Friendly#Tux|Tux]] is a character in the [[webcomic]] ''[[User Friendly]]''. [[TUX web server|TUX]] is the name of a Linux-based [[web server]].
===Video games===
[[Image:SuperTux-Milestone1 9.png|thumb|right|Tux as the player character protagonist of ''SuperTux'']]
Tux has taken on a role in the Linux community similar to that which [[Mario]] holds in the [[Nintendo]] community. As such, several [[computer game]]s, mostly [[Free software|free and open source]] and/or for Linux, have starred Tux, including:
*''[[Pingus (video game)|Pingus]]'': A ''[[Lemmings (video game)|Lemmings]]'' clone in which the lemmings are replaced by penguins in reference to Tux.
*''[[SuperTux]]'': a [[platform game]] inspired by ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]''
*''[[Tux Kart]]'' and ''[[SuperTuxKart]]'': Kart racing games similar to the ''[[Mario Kart]]'' series.
*''[[Tux Paint]]'': A drawing program for young children.
*''[[Tux Racer]]'': A game similar to [[snowboarding video games]], in which the player controls Tux sliding downhill on his belly rather than humans snowboarding down a track.
*''[[Wormux]]'': A [[turn-based strategy]] game inspired by ''[[Worms (video game)|Worms]]'', featuring many free and open source software mascots, including Tux.
*''[http://freedroid.sourceforge.net/ FreeDroidRPG]'': An RPG game, where Tux is an alien (Linarian) who's trapped on Earth. He must fight against deadly droids to survive.
*'''[[OpenArena]]''': contains a character titled as "Penguin" who is a man dressed in a costume alike to Tux.
*''[[Age of Empires III]]'': An [[RTS]] game produced by [[Microsoft]]. One of the random names which is assigned to explorer's dogs is 'Tux the Conqueror'.<ref>[http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~yueyue/shipname2.htm] - Age of Empires III dog names list (In Japanese)</ref>
===Tux in popular culture===
[[Image:Ebu tux.JPG|thumb|280px|Tux, in front of the [[European Broadcasting Union|EBU]] during a [http://www.ebu.ch/opensource seminar on open source for broadcasters] ]]
*In the Web RPG ''[[DragonFable]]'', the penguin pet is named Linus, referring to Linus Torvalds himself; he also refuses to use ''[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]''.
*In the gaming-related webcomic ''[[Ctrl+Alt+Del]]'', a pet penguin called Ted is owned by Scott, a Linux user.
*The [[Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins]], the [[American Hockey League]] affiliate of the [[NHL]]'s [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], anamorphic penguin mascot's name is Tux.[http://0708.wbspenguins.com/community/tux.asp]
*In the show ''[[Out of Jimmy's Head]]'', a wisecracking, comedian penguin who often tells bad puns and jokes is called Tux.
===Other uses===
[[Image:Tuxtoo.jpg|right|thumb|130px|A Tux [[tattoo]].]]
*Tux had an uncredited use in the ''[[Al Gore's Penguin Army]]'' controversy.
*During the Q&A session following his [[COMDEX]] Fall 1999 keynote address, Linus Torvalds was asked if he had any idea how many stuffed penguins had been sent to [[Bill Gates]]. Torvalds' response was another question: "To the nearest thousand?"
*Tux has been adapted to a [[Designer Toy]] called a Gwin and is distributed by [http://www.octobertoys.com/ October Toys]. It is redesigned by different artists and sold in short collectable runs through the October Toys website and other collectable vinyl toy sites. There are also artists who buy a [http://www.gwinarmy.com/othergwins.php#blank blank Gwin] to hand paint and customize as a one-off art piece.
*Tux is used as a cake template in the Australian Womans Weekly "Party Animals" Cake recipe book. The design is titled "The Penguin Prince" and no credit is given.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{portal|Free software|Free Software Portal Logo.svg}}
{{commonscat|Tux}}
*[http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~lewing/linux/ Linux 2.0 Penguins] (Larry Ewing)
*[http://www.sjbaker.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_History_of_Tux_the_Linux_Penguin A complete history of Tux]
*[http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,42209,00.html Wired News story on Tux]
*[http://www.ao.com/~regan/penguins/tux.html The Gospel of Tux]
*[http://lwn.net/Gallery/ The LWN Penguin Gallery]
*[http://www.free-penguin.org/ GPL'd sewing patterns for Tux]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y08z9QMe0o Roblimo's video posting explaining the use of Tux in the DCI Group video]
*[http://www.kysoh.com Tux Droid] : A real open source Tux
*[http://mikolaj.tv/p/pic/4455 Signposted Tux story at National Zoo in Canberra, Australia]
*[http://www.acmesystems.it/?id=21 Tux Case] : Tux plastic case for an embedded Linux board
*[https://www.magshop.com.au/images/products/3321_070712_xl.jpg Edible Tux] : Tux on a [[birthday cake]]
*[http://www.asymptopia.org/ TuxMathScrabble and TuxWordSmith Education Games]
*[http://free-penguin.org/ The Free Penguin Project] - [[GPL]]'d [[machine embroidery]] design files for Tux.
{{Linux}}
[[Category:Linux]]
[[Category:Computing mascots]]
[[Category:Fictional penguins]]
[[Category:Free software culture and documents]]
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