Linux mascot Tux the penguin turns 30 — Linus Torvalds outlined the design of the “slightly overweight penguin” on May 9, 1996

Linux mascot Tux is marking its 30th anniversary, tracing back to a 1996 email from Linus Torvalds.

Torvalds proposed a cute, cuddly, slightly overweight penguin as the Linux logo concept.

The article revisits how Tux became one of open source’s most recognizable symbols.

Tux’s simple design has helped shape Linux branding for three decades.