# What is Zero Development?

URL: https://zerodev.ca/blogs/what-is-zero-development
Published: 2026-10-11
Updated: 2026-10-11

> Who we are, what we sell, and how buying, licensing and support work for Medusa, Kora, Retrail, Vail and our AthenaBot plugins.

## Key Takeaways

- Zero Development makes Discord bots, AthenaBot plugins, a license server and two small websites, all of which you host yourself.
- Everything is sold on BuiltByBit as a one-time purchase.
- License keys are handed out in the Zero Development Discord, which is also where support happens.
- Every product has a setup guide and full documentation on zerodev.ca.



## Who We Are

Zero Development is a small studio that builds software you run on your own server. We sell on [BuiltByBit](https://builtbybit.com/zero?ref=321588) and support everything we sell from our [Discord server](https://discord.zerodev.ca).

We build for people who would rather own their tools than rent them. Nothing we make phones home for features, nothing sits behind a monthly plan, and your data stays in your own database or your own files.

## What We Make

Our products fall into four groups.

### Discord Bots

**Medusa** is a Discord bot with a web dashboard. It ships with 26 modules, such as moderation, tickets, leveling, giveaways and music, and you set all of it up from the browser. It runs in 16 languages and can run several bots from one install. Read more in [What is Medusa?](/blogs/what-is-medusa).

### Licensing

**Kora** is a license server. It issues keys for the things you sell, answers validation requests from your products and gives you a dashboard for products, customers and keys. It can also turn BuiltByBit purchases into licenses on its own. Read more in [What is Kora?](/blogs/what-is-kora).

### Websites

**Retrail** is a one-page portfolio and **Vail** is a status page. Both are set up from one `settings.json` file, with no database and no admin panel. See [What is Retrail?](/blogs/what-is-retrail) and [What is Vail?](/blogs/what-is-vail).

### AthenaBot Plugins

If you already run AthenaBot, we sell four plugins for it: **Product Panel**, **Store**, **Advanced Automod** and **Emoji Locker**. See [Our AthenaBot Plugins](/blogs/athenabot-plugins).

## How It Works

Every product follows the same three steps:

1. **Buy and download.** Get the files from the product's BuiltByBit page.
2. **Get your license.** Join the Discord server and claim your license key.
3. **Set it up.** Follow the product's setup guide in the [docs](/docs).

Updates are posted on BuiltByBit. Medusa and Kora can also update themselves from their dashboards.

## Support

Support happens in our [Discord server](https://discord.zerodev.ca). Open a ticket there with your question and what you have tried, and we will help you get running.

Most answers are already in the documentation. Each product has a setup guide, a configuration reference and, where it applies, developer docs for writing your own modules.

## Commissions

We used to take custom work through this site. Commissions are moving to the BuiltByBit commission system. Until then, ask in Discord.

<Resources title="Get Started">
  <Resource name="Zero Development on BuiltByBit" description="Every product we sell, with reviews and update history." link="https://builtbybit.com/zero?ref=321588" tag="Store" image="https://bucket.zerodev.ca/showcase/covers/medusa-4.png" />

  <Resource name="Documentation" description="Setup guides and references for every product." link="/docs" tag="Docs" image="https://bucket.zerodev.ca/showcase/covers/kora-4.png" />

  <Resource name="Discord Server" description="Claim your license keys and get support." link="https://discord.zerodev.ca" tag="Support" image="https://bucket.zerodev.ca/showcase/covers/vail-4.png" />
</Resources>


## Questions

### What does Zero Development sell?

Self-hosted software: the Medusa Discord bot, the Kora license server, the Retrail portfolio site, the Vail status page, and four AthenaBot plugins called Product Panel, Store, Advanced Automod and Emoji Locker.

### Where can I buy Zero Development products?

On BuiltByBit, at builtbybit.com/zero. Each product is a one-time purchase.

### How do I get my license key?

Join the Zero Development Discord at discord.zerodev.ca and claim your key there after buying on BuiltByBit.

### Where do I get support?

Open a ticket in the Zero Development Discord. Setup guides and references for every product are at zerodev.ca/docs.