March 13, 1994 saw the release of version 1.0 of Linux, everyone’s favorite UNIX-like operating system! What started as “just a hobby, won’t be big and professional like gnu” has grown into a robust system that’s used by mega-corporations all over the globe. Originally tied solely to x86 hardware, the Linux kernel now supports “Alpha AXP, Sun SPARC, Motorola 68000, PowerPC, ARM, Hitachi SuperH, IBM S/390, MIPS, HP PA-RISC, Intel IA-64, AMD x86-64, AXIS CRIS, Renesas M32R, Atmel AVR32, Renesas H8/300, NEC V850, Tensilica Xtensa, and Analog Devices Blackfin architectures; for many of these architectures in both 32- and 64-bit variants.”

Strictly speaking, Linux was officially unveiled in September of 1991 with version 0.01. That’s a more accurate “birth day” for Linux, which makes it 18 years old later this year. Hopefully Linux will exercise its newfound adulthood by buying cigarettes and pornography, and voting!

This year also sees the 40th birthday of UNIX! UNIX is like the cool, aging hipster uncle that inspired Linux to grow up into such a badass.

For those keeping track, Vista will be 3 years old in November, while XP will be 8 in October. The Windows family as a whole will be officially 24 years old in November, if you want to celebrate the release of Windows 1.0.

Thanks, Gizmodo, for the reminder!