Zero Gravity Nerds (ZGN) is a small group of individuals looking to create quality content for the web. This week, the focus is on the foundations and infrastructure we need to make that happen. Setting up these foundations includes identifying software sources and configuring tools.

The mission of ZGN is to facilitate creativity and to bring ideas and goals into reality. The foundations built this week will be the support structures for those who strive to build and create. To help achieve this we have selected open-source software, creative commons content, public domain offerings, and cross-platform tools.

For instance, I built this website using ‘WordPress’, a “free and open-source content management system”. I wrote this copy in ‘Libre Office’ a “free and open-source office suite”. I edited site images using ‘Gimp’ a “free and open-source raster graphics editor”. In fact, ZGN would not exist in its current form without the open-source community.

Moreover, the icons on our home page have creative commons licenses. The profile image for, ‘The Nick Cage Challenge’ is public domain, as is the image located in the third blog post of “The Missing Pages, Behind the Cover’ another ZGN project.

For team communications and collaboration, ZGN prefers cross-platform programs. Cross-platform gives all team members the same access, no matter the platform or device used. This reduces limitations and increases access.

With these tools and through these means we will reach the goals set forth by our team members. We hope through various projects, chapters, and affiliations to grow a network of support. Subscribe to this blog or follow this page to learn more.