What is typically a characteristic of open source software development?

The characteristic of open-source software development that stands out is its encouragement of modification and community input. Open-source software is made available to the public with its source code, allowing anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute the software. This openness fosters collaboration among developers and users, leading to enhancements, bug fixes, and new features that benefit the entire community. The transparency of the code invites contributions from a diverse range of individuals, which can result in higher-quality software that evolves based on collective insight and innovation.

In contrast, other options suggest a restrictive approach to software. Keeping code secret and requiring expensive licenses are typical of proprietary software models, where access and modifications are limited to prevent unauthorized use. Similarly, the notion that the software is only available to corporate users contradicts the very principles of open-source, which aims to democratize access to software for anyone, regardless of their status as an individual or an organization.