explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Category:Christmas

2025-07-29T03:21:05Z

2001:4450:8178:2200:A4D1:D234:7454:6DBF: /* Explanation */

*A list of comics pertaining to {{w|Christmas}}.
**Not all of these are released in conjunction with Christmas.
***As of 2024 there have been 25 Christmas comics released during the Christmas days between 22-26/12.
****Other comics relating to Christmas has also been released at other times in December or even in other months.
***As of 2024, 2024 has been the only year without a Christmas comic around 22-26/12, since the first year where there were comics released around Christmas!
**'''Click''' to expand for a more detailed explanation:
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed leftAlign" style="width:100%">
<br>

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}
*The first Christmas after [[xkcd]] began, there were no releases a month around Christmas.
**But since then, until 2025, there has been at least one Christmas related comic every Christmas.
**And when the 25th has been an official release day, it has since then always been a Christmas comic, until 2025.
***The release date has never been moved, though, to accommodate a release on the 25th.
***As it has been the case for [[April Fools' Day comics]].
*In 2009 both comics around Christmas were Christmas comics.
**This has happened 7 times up till and including 2021 (last time was 2019).
*True Christmas comics come out just before, on or after Christmas day on the 25th of December.
**Until 2017 they had all been released between 23rd and 26th of December, but in 2017 the 22nd was also used, even though the 25th was also a release day and where thus also used for a Christmas comic.
**There have been several other Christmas comics released earlier in December.
**And others released in different months, that only referred to Christmas, but was not in themselves Christmas comics.
**This is all listed below in the [[#Comics around and about Christmas|Comics around and about Christmas]] section.
*In 2019 two Christmas related comics came out just before and after December 1st, with only one comic in between.
**This was so different than what usually occurs, so a [[2236:_Is_it_Christmas%3F#Trivia|trivia section]] mentions this in the second of these comics.
*In 2024 there was no Christmas comics between 23-26/12, which was the first time since the first Christmas comic was released in 2006. So it could have been 20 years in a row , but the streak failed after 19 years. It was also the tenth time the 25th fell on a release day, and all previous 25ht releases have been about Christmas. So that streak of Christmas Comics released on the 25th also ended on nine not reaching ten.

===Comics around and about Christmas===
*Here is a list of the comics coming out as the one before, the one on, or the one after Christmas day.
**The list counts the real Christmas comics, but also list those comics hitting those days '''without''' having any relation to Christmas (i.e. comics from 22nd to 26th of December).
***If there is not number it is not a Christmas comic.
***If it is not released on the Christmas days there will be a note explaining.
**Until 2017 Christmas comics had only been released on days falling in the interval between 23th and 26th of December.
**There will always be at least one release day during this interval, and usually two.
***When the 23rd is a Thursday there will only be one release day on the 24th and when the 23rd falls on a Saturday, there will only be one release day on the 25th.
***This has so far occurred five times; only the 25th in 2006, 2017 and 2023 and only the 24th in 2010 and 2021.
****In 2017 there was a Christmas comic already on Friday the 22nd.
**A few comics related to Christmas have not been released this close to Christmas, or even in December. They will be mentioned here below as well, but they will not be numbered.
**Until 2025 all possible years with any release day in the span from 23-26/12 have had at least one Christmas comic. But in 2025, there were no comics about Christmas during those days!
*Christmas 2005:
**From December 5th 2005 to January 4th 2006 [[Randall]] were taking a break while starting up xkcd so there were no release around Christmas.
**This was the last comic released before the break:
***December 5th: [[39: Bowl]]
**This was the first comic released after the break:
***January 4th 2006: [[45: Schrodinger]]
*Christmas 2006:
**December 22nd: [[200: Bill Nye]]
**1st Christmas comic released on December 25th: [[201: Christmas GPS]]
***It was one of only three years where the 25th was the only one release day in the period between 23-26th of December. The other two years being 2017 and 2023 (as of 2023).
*Christmas 2007:
**2nd Christmas comic released on December 24th: [[361: Christmas Back Home]]
**December 26th: [[362: Blade Runner]]
*Christmas 2008:
**December 22nd: [[520: Cuttlefish]]
**3rd Christmas comic released on December 24th: [[521: 2008 Christmas Special]]
**December 26th: [[522: Google Trends]]
*Christmas 2009:
**Both where Christmas comics (1st time this happened)!
**4th Christmas comic released on December 23rd: [[679: Christmas Plans]]
**5th Christmas comic released on December 25th: [[680: December 25th]]
*Christmas 2010:
**December 22nd: [[837: Coupon Code]]
**6th Christmas comic released on December 24th: [[838: Incident]]
***Second time only one comic release day fell between 23-26th of December and first time this day was the 24th (and since then this, release day only on the 24th has only happened again in 2021).
**In 2010 another Christmas related comic [[835: Tree]] were released '''already''' on December 17th. (First Christmas comic not released during the Christmas days.)
**In 2010 there was also another comic that referred to Christmas, but it had not much to do with Christmas and was not released anywhere near Christmas
***October 8th: [[803: Airfoil]]
*Christmas 2011:
**Both were Christmas comics (2nd time this happened)!
**7th Christmas comic released on December 23rd: [[994: Advent Calendar]]
**8th Christmas comic released on December 26th: [[995: Coinstar]]
**In 2011 there was also an early Christmas comic [[988: Tradition]] released two weeks before the others on December 9th.
*Christmas 2012:
**Both were Christmas comics (3rd time this happened)!
**9th Christmas comic released on December 24th: [[1151: Tests]]
**10th Christmas comic released on December 26th: [[1152: Communion]]
*Christmas 2013:
**Both were Christmas comics (4th time this happened)!
**11th Christmas comic released on December 23th: [[1307: Buzzfeed Christmas]]
**12th Christmas comic released on December 25th: [[1308: Christmas Lights]]
*Christmas 2014:
**December 22nd: [[1463: Altitude]]
**13th Christmas comic released on December 24st: [[1464: Santa]]
**December 26th: [[1465: xkcd Phone 2]] (although it could be seen as a perfect gift for Christmas...)
*Christmas 2015:
**Both were Christmas comics (5th time this happened)!
**14th Christmas comic released on December 23rd: [[1620: Christmas Settings]]
**15th Christmas comic released on December 25th: [[1621: Fixion]]
**In 2015 there were also two comics that referred to Christmas, but neither had much to do with Christmas and they were not released anywhere near Christmas:
***April 15th: [[1512: Horoscopes]], just mentions Christmas songs might be playing for one out of 12 zodiac signs.
***September 14th: [[1577: Advent]], is not about Christmas advent calendars, although it does mention Christmas trees.
***November: [[1606: Five-Day Forecast]]
*Christmas 2016:
**16th Christmas comic released on December 23rd: [[1776: Reindeer]]
**December 26th: [[1777: Dear Diary]]
*Christmas 2017:
**Both were Christmas comics (6th time this happened)!
**17th Christmas comic, the first to be released on December 22nd: [[1932: The True Meaning of Christmas]]
**18th Christmas comic released on December 25th: [[1933: Santa Facts]]
***First time one of the main christimas comics was released as early as 22nd of December. It was also one of the few year with only one release day in the in interval between 23-26th of December, and only the second with only a release day on the 25th. The first being 2006 and the next 2023.
*Christmas 2018:
**19th Christmas comic released on December 24th: [[2089: Christmas Eve Eve]]
**December 26th: [[2090: Feathered Dinosaur Venn Diagram]]
*Christmas 2019:
**Both were Christmas comics (7th time this happened)!
**20th Christmas comic released on December 23th: [[2245: Edible Arrangements]]
**21st Christmas comic released on December 25th: [[2246: Christmas Presents]]
***In 2019 there were also two comics that referred to Christmas, but neither had much to do with Christmas. But they were released close to the beginning of December:
****November 27th: [[2234: How To Deliver Christmas Presents]], mentions Christmas shopping and presents
****December 2nd: [[2236: Is it Christmas?]], which replies ''No'', and it is thus correct 99.73% of the time.
****As this was a bit special it was mentioned in the [[2236:_Is_it_Christmas%3F#Trivia|trivia section]] of the second of the two.
***There was also a comic, [[2101: Technical Analysis]], that mentions Christmas because a graph has red and green colors, but the comic has nothing else to do with Christmas.
*Christmas 2020:
**December 23rd: [[2402: Into My Veins]]
**22nd Christmas comic released on December 25th: [[2403: Wrapping Paper]]
***There was also a comic, [[2379: Probability Comparisons]], that mentions the probability of a white Christmas seven time as part of the probabilities listed, but the comic has nothing else to do with Christmas.
*Christmas 2021:
**December 22nd: [[2558: Rapid Test Results]]
**23rd Christmas comic released on December 24th: [[2559: December 25th Launch]]
***Only second time that only one release day fell between 23-26th of December and fell on the 24th as of 2023. The first time this happened was in 2010.
***In 2021 there were also two other comics that referred to Christmas, but neither can be considered a true Christmas comic. They where both released in the first half of December:
***December 3rd: [[2550: Webb]], an advent calendar counting down to the Webb space telescopes launch, which was set on the 22nd at the time of release. The actual launch was on Christmas Day, and the years Christmas Comic was celebrating this launch, few hours before it happened, imagining a last problem that could have delayed the launch.
***December 13th: [[2554: Gift Exchange]], Christmas is not mentioned though.
*Christmas 2022:
**24th Christmas comic released on December 23rd: [[2715: Pando]]
**December 26th: [[2716: Game Night Ordering]]
*Christmas 2023:
**December 22nd: [[2871: Definitely]]
**25th Christmas comic released on December 25th: [[2872: Hydrothermal Vents]]
***This was one of the few year with only one release day in the in interval between 23-26th of December, and only the third with only a release day on the 25th. The first being 2006 and the previous being 2017.
*Christmas 2024:
**December 23rd: [[3028: D&D Roll]]
**December 25th: [[3029: Sun Avoidance]]
***This was the first time that a release day fell on the 25th without a Christmas comic was released. As the one on the 23rd was also not about Christmas and with next release day the 27th, there will for the first time, since there have been release day in the span from 23-26/12, be no Christmas comic released during those days.
****There could still come one late on the 27th, but even if this is a very special situation for xkcd.
****The comic on the 25th is though about avoiding the sun, and the Christmas celebration is originally a celebration of the return of the sun at Winter Solstice, so at that point the Northern part of the Earth is kind of avoiding the Sun. But to say that this then makes this comic about Christmas would be a far stretch.
***In 2024 there was however an earlier December comic that referred to Christmas:
****December 2nd: [[3019: Advent Calendar Advent Calendar]] about... well Advent Calendars...
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[[Category:Holidays]]
[[Category:Comics by date]]

1508: Operating Systems

2025-07-29T03:19:25Z

2001:4450:8178:2200:A4D1:D234:7454:6DBF:

{{comic
| number = 1508
| date = April 6, 2015
| title = Operating Systems
| image = operating systems.png
| titletext = One of the survivors, poking around in the ruins with the point of a spear, uncovers a singed photo of Richard Stallman. They stare in silence. "This," one of them finally says, "This is a man who BELIEVED in something."
}}

==Explanation==
In this comic, [[Randall]] gives an {{w|Gantt chart|overview}} of the past, present and (speculatively) future of the {{w|operating system}}s running in his house at any given time. Notably, because Randall is fascinated by technology, he has had more than one OS running in his household since the mid '90's. The timeline tracks how Operating Systems have come and gone over the years, and the gradual shift from desktop Operating Systems to mobile can be observed. Beyond the present day, we see some of Randall's humorous predictions as to which technologies and companies will dominate the Operating System landscape in the future.

OSes that currently exist or previously existed are provided in the table below.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|-
! OSes !! Timeframe !! Explanation
|-
| {{w|MS-DOS}} (Microsoft Disk Operating system || 1990-1998 || The default, command-line-based OS on most IBM PC-compatible computers. Early versions of {{w|Microsoft Windows}} operated as shells on top of MS-DOS rather than stand-alone OSes in their own right, which may explain part of the overlap in those two bars.
|-
| {{w|Mac OS}} || 1994-2001 || The OS of Apple's Macintosh line of computers. Randall's bar indicates that he stopped using Macs in 2001, after Mac OS had been superseded by the new and then-buggy {{w|Mac OS X}}.
|-
| {{w|Windows}} || 1993-2007 || At the time this comic was posted, Windows 7 was the most popular OS. However, Randall appears to have ditched Windows in favor of the more user- and nerd-friendly Linux OS (shown below).
|-
| {{w|Linux}} || 1999-2018 || A [https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html free software] Unix-like kernel often used with the GNU system to produce GNU/Linux (commonly but erroneously referred to as simply Linux). Randall's bar indicates that he likely used it on one or two PCs starting from 1999 while still using Windows on other PCs, or perhaps was dual-booting one or more PCs with Windows, until abandoning Windows in 2007 to use (GNU/)Linux full-time. This timing coincides with the release of Microsoft's controversial {{w|Windows Vista}} and the advent of more user-friendly Linux distributions.
|-
| {{w|OS X}} || 2009-2023 || The successor OS of Apple's Macintosh line of computers. Although it was sometimes marketed as merely the 10th version of the earlier Mac OS, it was largely a new product. The bar indicates Randall's renewed use of Macintosh computers in 2009 after the OS had matured and Macs had transitioned to Intel processors.
|-
| {{w|Android (operating system)|Android}} || 2009-2016 || The upper layers of the OS running on Android phones and tablets, above the Linux {{w|Kernel (operating system)|kernel}}. Randall is indicating that he has at least one of these devices.
|-
| Apple's {{w|iOS}} || 2013-2018 || The OS of {{w|iPhone}}, {{w|iPad}}, {{w|iPod Touch}} and the basis of the OS run by the {{w|Apple TV}} and {{w|Apple Watch}}. Randall is indicating that he also has at least one of these devices.
|}

His predictions for the future include:
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
|-
! Date !! Explanation
|-
| 2018 || That {{w|OS X}} (now called macOS) and {{w|iOS}} will merge. There is frequent speculation on technology blogs as to whether or not this merging will come to pass in the future. The two OSes have a common origin, share a lot of software, and are maintained by the same company that would benefit from the efficiency of maintaining a single unified OS. Opposing this is the fact that interaction patterns are very different between traditional computers and tablets/phones and a one-size-fits-both solution may not be feasible (as proven by {{w|Windows 8|Microsoft's disastrous attempt at such}}), and the fact that Apple spends some time in each of its recent keynotes mocking computers like the Microsoft Surface Pro which use both standard computer and touch control. However, just two months after this comic was posted, [https://youtu.be/DOYikXbC6Fs Apple asserted that they would not merge the two.] (That being said, Macs are getting closer to iOS devices now that they use the same type of processor, as well as copying some of the software design and features of iOS.)
|-
| 2019 || That an operating system designed with and for {{w|JavaScript}} will become attractive, perhaps along the lines of [http://node-os.com/ NodeOS] and/or [http://runtimejs.org/ Runtime.js].
|-
| 2022 || That there will be an OS based on the {{w|Tinder (application)|Tinder}} dating app. This could possibly be an OS which is mainly devoted to matchmaking, or an OS with a 'love' theme.
|-
| 2024 || That there will be an OS from {{w|Nest Labs}}, presumably oriented towards home automation and the {{w|Internet of things}}.
|-
| 2029 || That [[Elon Musk]] will create an operating system. Elon musk has many current companies, including some focused on technology. Based on his clear desire to gain large amounts of control over the web, an Elon Musk-made OS may not be the most outlandish prediction on this list.
|-
| 2030 || That {{w|Disk operating system|DOS}} would make a comeback, but only in an ironic fashion (maybe because there would be no more disks left for it to operate from).
|-
| 2034 || That Randall will be deploying an [http://geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/07/genetically-engineered-red-blood-cells-could-be-drug-delivery-drones/ autonomous drug-delivery drone] in his body. Alternatively, these nanobots could possibly allow the user to function as a router or possibly allow for the user to see a computer without a computer, seeing the screen like a VR headset without the headset.
|-
| 2042 || Human civilization comes to a fiery end, maybe due to some unholy combination of the above innovations. Another possible explanation is that human civilization will be wiped out by an artificial super-intelligence, superior to human intelligence, as Elon Musk, Ray Kurzweil, Bill Gates and many tech pundits foresee that 2045 will be the year to see such technology becoming real, and as Elon Musk, Bill Gates and many other tech pundits fear that it will be the extinction of all life on earth, as explained [http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/artificial-intelligence-revolution-2.html on this page]. It is possible that the BloodDrone OS could be used to gain control of our vision or control our bodies, killing us all.
|-
| 2059 || At this time his operating system will be {{w|GNU Hurd|GNU/Hurd}}. This infamously and perennially late [http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/hurd.html GNU/Hurd] OS will finally make it in to Randall's home after human civilization has been wiped out. The joke is that GNU/Hurd began to be developed in 1990, and while it was expected to be released in a relatively short time, even now only unstable builds have been released. So Randall is saying that he will finally run it in his house a decade or two after the end of civilization. GNU/Hurd will presumably have an advantage as humanity rebuilds civilization due to the widespread availability of its code and development tools, and perhaps also because of Stallman's depth of belief, based on the title text. Alternatively, GNU/Hurd might be finished by the same force that finished humankind, for instance {{w|Skynet (Terminator)|Skynet}}, in case of {{w|Cybernetic revolt|AI Apocalypse}}. (Interestingly, although still far from completion, [http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/hurd/hurd.git/commit/?id=b8ffab7c38f3ede424b8a07553d6ee6b16abb85b a new version of GNU/Hurd] was released less than a week after this comic.)

GNU is a collection of free software utilities, particularly the system utilities used with the Linux Kernel to form the GNU/Linux operating system (often erroneously called just Linux). Hurd is an operating system kernel designed as part of GNU project that could be used in place of the Linux kernel to produce a complete GNU operating system. Hurd has a microkernel architecture, which has many perceived advantages over Linux's monolithic kernel, and is thought by many to be technically superior, despite its low adoption rate compared to the Linux kernel. As of 2023, it is still in development as version 0.9.
|}
The title text refers to [[Richard Stallman]], the founder of the {{w|Free Software movement}} and the GNU and Hurd projects. A survivor of the fire that ended the human civilization has uncovered a slightly burned ({{w|Singe|singed}}) picture of him. Those gathered can see, either directly from the picture or because they already know of Stallman, that this was a man that really believed in something. In this case it was ''free software''. Inspired by his image, they rebuild their lost civilization and finish Hurd development. The GNU/Hurd reference might also be a pun, as in a "herd" of {{w|Wildebeest|Gnus}} "running" in his living room, as wild animals reclaim the Earth after the end of human civilization. Randall has made several comics about free software and also [[:Category:Comics featuring Richard Stallman|about Stallman]].

==Transcript==
:[All text is in capitals. At the top of the panel:]
::'''Operating Systems'''
::running in my house

:[At the bottom there is time-line that runs from 1990 to 2066. It has small indicators for every year, larger for every 5 years and largest for every 10 years. Below the 10 year indicators are written the years. Also the year 2015 is marked:]
:1990 2000 2010 Now 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060

:[Bars above the time-line in four levels are labeled with operating system names, representing the time period for that OS. Below is a list of the bars on the time-line in order of first appearance (with approximate year ranges given). Also the level from 1-4 is indicated, with level 1 just above the time-line and level 4 the highest level above the line:]

:[Level 1 from 1988 to 1998 (extends a little left past the beginning of the time-line but not off panel):]
::MS DOS
:[Level 2 from 1993 to 2007:]
::Windows
:[Level 3 from 1994 to 2001:]
::Mac OS
:[Level 1 from 1999 to 2018:]
::Linux
:[Level 2 from 2009 to 2023. On the way the bar merges with iOS around 2018 thru 2022:]
::OS X
:[Level 3 from 2009 to 2016:]
::Android
:[Level 4 from 2013 to 2022. On the way to 2022 the bar moves down past Android to merge with OS X after 2018:]
::iOS
:[Level 1 from 2018 to 2028. The text is written in square brackets:]
::[Something].js
:[Level 3 from 2022 to 2029:]
::TinderOS
:[Level 2 from 2023 to 2032:]
::Nest
:[Level 1 from 2028 to 2041:]
::Elon Musk Project:
:[Level 3 from 2030 to 2036:]
::DOS, but ironically
:[Level 2 from 2034 to 2041:]
::Blood Drone
:[This is not a bar, but the text (in three lines) is in a double bar-height (level 1-2) square bracket. The bracket extends from 2042 to 2051:]
::[Human civilization ends in fire]
:[Level 1 from 2059 going past the end of the panel past 2066:]
::GNU/Hurd

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Timelines]]
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:iOS]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Richard Stallman]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Elon Musk]]

3121: Kite Incident

2025-07-29T02:34:13Z

2001:4450:8178:2200:A4D1:D234:7454:6DBF:

{{comic
| number = 3121
| date = July 28, 2025
| title = Kite Incident
| image = kite_incident_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x1610px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Detectives say the key to tracking down the source of the kites was a large wall map covered in thumbtacks and string. 'It's the first time that method has ever actually worked,' said a spokesperson.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created recently. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

In this comic, Megan sets up a kite using a fishing line, which is unorthodox but not unheard of. Cueball expresses his concern regarding how high the kite is flying, which Megan dismisses, and from this point onward, kites are flown farther and farther away. Because the connection between the holding point and the lofted kite will form a {{w|catenary}} hanging down, after paying out sufficient line toward a kite increasingly far downwind, the line will eventually start to dip and possibly touch the ground. Cueball suggests adding another kite at that point, after which they can then pay out more line and keep the line raised off the ground for additional distance. Further kites are attached to the spools to get a longer and longer line of kites.

Having apparently also extended their original spool of fishing line with yet more spools'-worth, the kites become so numerous and high-flying that they eventually blow in a circle around a significant part of the planet, following a {{w|jet stream}}. A circle on the surface of the Earth that follows the line of latitude where Randall lives is about 18,500 miles long, though a circumpolar jet-stream would curve into higher and lower latitudes to possibly add a lot more distance (as well as being at a higher altitude, which would add a more predictable fraction to its length).

The sirens in the second-to-last panel refer to a visit by some law-enforcement agency since the string of kites circling the Earth has interfered with international air travel. Although the mass of any given kite and the presence of such a relatively light and fragile tether should not cause too much difficulty for the majority of cases of airliners if their wing or body collides with the kite-chain, the danger of a kite being ingested into the engine would ''preferably'' be avoided out of an abundance of caution. This is true even if the presence of kites is known to be not a more solid danger rather than a mystery and/or {{w|2023 Chinese balloon incident|perceived threat}} which can lead to {{w|Air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption|air travel to be shut down}}. Regardless of the actual degree of danger, the authorities react accordingly, and events culminate in Megan and Cueball being forced to issue a formal apology.

The title text alludes to an investigation technique seen in many types of media where the investigator {{tvtropes|StringTheory|pins text and photo evidence to a board}}, connecting related evidence with string, or possibly similarly {{tvtropes|ConnectTheDeaths|annotating a map}}. This technique is also made fun of in [[2244: Thumbtacks And String]]. Though often good enough for fictional purposes, at least to the extent that the plot demands, the text indicates that real-world uses of 'string on a map' to discover a useful result have not actually been successful. But in this case, the string on the map would be there to indicate the actual extent to the string ''in the air'', probably from various reports received from around the world, and apparently it had successfully led to the discovery of the location from which the string originated on the ground and the subsequent intervention against the duo's excessive kite-deployment activity.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Kites]]
[[Category:Aviation]]
[[Category:Large drawings]]