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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Linux” is a rare card of the Memes World series 75, number 22497 of the collection, and the 79th best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Linux” meme mean?
In meme culture, Linux stands for the pride of people who love configuring everything by hand. It is used to tease users who push their favorite distribution on everyone, to warn beginners about commands that can wreck a computer, or to poke fun at the system’s supposed complexity. The tone mixes admiration and irony: skill is respected, but the smug attitude around it gets roasted. Dropping a Linux reference signals that you belong to the in-crowd.
Where does the “Linux” meme come from?
Finnish engineer Linus Torvalds published the first version of the Linux kernel on October 5, 1991. It drew inspiration from MINIX, a teaching system built by Andrew Tanenbaum, and first targeted Intel processors before being ported to many other architectures. The meme side grew out of tech-forum rituals: the copypasta insisting on the name “GNU/Linux,” adapted from a Richard Stallman text and popular on 4chan’s /g/ board, the “Install Gentoo” taunt aimed at newcomers, and booby-trapped commands such as rm -rf / and the fork bomb. Even apt-get moo, a harmless hidden joke, belongs to this folklore.
- October 5, 1991Linus Torvalds releases the first version of Linux.
- September 16, 2018Torvalds announces a break from kernel work and apologizes for harsh emails.
How to use the “Linux” meme
- Tell a beginner asking for advice to “just install Gentoo.”
- Paste the GNU/Linux speech to tease a friend who only says Linux.
- Warn a newcomer never to run a command they do not understand.
- Type apt-get moo in a terminal to make a coworker smile.
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The “Linux” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 22497 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Rare |
| Collection | Memes World series 75 |
| Fame | 69/100 · #79 of 300 |
| Recycle value | 10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Linux” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Linux comes out of the Memes World series 75 as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Linux”
More cards of the Memes World series 75
Frequently asked questions
What is the Linux meme?
It covers jokes about Linux culture: purists, build-it-yourself distributions, dangerous commands and fights over the system’s name. They circulate mostly on tech forums.
Who created Linux?
Finnish engineer Linus Torvalds released the first version on October 5, 1991. He took inspiration from the educational system MINIX.
What does GNU/Linux mean in memes?
It refers to a Richard Stallman text asking that the full name be used. The copypasta has circulated since around 2011, mostly on 4chan’s /g/ board.
Why do people say “Install Gentoo”?
It is sarcasm: Gentoo has a reputation for being hard to set up, so the phrase sends newcomers on an uphill path. It shows the teasing spirit of tech forums.
How do I get the Linux meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Linux” is a rare card of the Memes World series 75. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Linux card?
It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Know Your Meme — Linux · checked on October 18, 2026.
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