Most Python developers have written at least one tool, script, library or framework that others would find useful. My goal in this article is to make the process of open-sourcing existing Python code as clear and painless as possible. And I don't simply mean, "create GitHub repo, git push, post on Reddit, and call it a day." By the end of this article, you'll be able to take an existing code base and transform it into an open source project that encourages both use and contribution.

While every project is different, there are some parts of the process of open-sourcing existing code that are common to all Python projects. In the vein of another popular series I've written, "Starting a Django Project The Right Way," I'll outline the steps I've found to be necessary when open-sourcing a Python project.