010-150 · Question #90
Which of the following possibilities is only available when using open source software?
The correct answer is D. Access to its source code. Open source software is defined by the availability of its source code to the public, which distinguishes it from proprietary software.
Question
Which of the following possibilities is only available when using open source software?
Options
- ADownload of all its existing versions.
- BFree use.
- CAccess to its detailed help manual.
- DAccess to its source code.
How the community answered
(55 responses)- A4% (2)
- B5% (3)
- C11% (6)
- D80% (44)
Why each option
Open source software is defined by the availability of its source code to the public, which distinguishes it from proprietary software.
Downloading all existing versions of software is not exclusive to open source - many proprietary vendors also provide version archives or allow downloading of previous releases.
Free use is not exclusive to open source software - many proprietary applications are free to use (freeware), while some open source software actually requires payment or a commercial license.
Detailed help manuals and documentation are available for both proprietary and open source software - having a help manual is unrelated to whether the software is open source.
Access to source code is the defining characteristic of open source software. By definition, open source licenses (such as GPL, MIT, Apache) require that the source code be made available to users, allowing them to inspect, modify, and distribute it. This is the one feature that is exclusively tied to open source software and not available with proprietary/closed-source software.
Concept tested: Defining characteristics of open source software
Source: https://opensource.org/osd
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