The process whose specific outcome is the progression of an open tracheal system over time, from its formation to the mature structure. An open tracheal system is a respiratory system, a branched network of epithelial tubes that supplies oxygen to target tissues via spiracles. An example of this is found in Drosophila melanogaster. [ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8625828 GOC:mtg_sensu ]