Top 5 Linux references in pop-culture

By David M Williams
Sunday, 28 September 2008 14:19

Opinion and Analysis

That ubiquitous Linux! It's on your computer, your mobile phone, your handheld GPS. What's more, it's also in movies, cartoons, comics and books around you too! Here are my top 5 Linux references as found in popular culture.

Here are my top five picks for pop-culture Linux references. We'll start with one which is a bit obvious, but certainly has a place in my heart.

#5 – Dilbert
Well, if ever there was a mainstream comic strip that’s likely to mention Linux it’d have to be Dilbert. Many a software developer and network administrator has identified themself with the hapless engineer during his exploits.

On the 24th June, 1995, Dilbert’s companion, Wally, came across a portly bearded fellow of a certain age, perhaps somewhat like Santa Claus but darker and with an edge about him. The scruffy beard, the suspenders and the smug expression all combined to give him away.

Wally recognised him immediately from his appearance and affect as none other than “one of those condescending UNIX computer users” and reacts with a mixture of nervousness, awe and hostility. The UNIX man listens with a beatific calm then finally reaches into his pocket. “Here’s a nickel, kid. Get yourself a better computer” he says.

Dilbert runs daily on the web and in over 2,500 newspapers worldwide in 65 different countries, in 19 languages and with over 150 million fans.

This cartoon is well established in Linux and UNIX hacker lore. It’s adorned many a cubicle wall. It’s appeared on the cover of such tomes as W. Richard Stevens’ “Advanced Programming in the UNIX environment” which was published 10 years after the cartoon appeared but is a testament to its longevity and the memories it invokes.

This strip rightly deserves to be on this list. Due to being a bit geeky, and even predictable that Dilbert would reference the popular open source operating system, I’ve put it down to the fifth position. We’ll get more mainstream as we progress.




#5 – Dilbert
#4 – The Mighty Avengers
#3 – The Matrix Reloaded
#2 – George W Bush and the NSA
#1 – Jurassic Park