Some notes from the WLUG meeting on Debian and packaging:
To create Debian packages, install:
dpkg-dev, file, gcc, g++, libc6-dev, make, patch, perl, dh-make, debhelper, fakeroot, gnupg and lintian.
Run dh_make -e your@maintainer.address -f ../filename-version.tar.gz in the source dir & pick package type
Investigate package with dpkg --info file, dpkg --contents file and lintian file
make sure makefile has a proper install target, syntax of install program install -d $(BIN) $(ICONS) $(DESTDIR)/etc install -m644 file $(BIN) etc
Editing debian files.
Control file - add dependencies etc. copyright file changelog file rules file - makefile.
dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot
The official reference for package building is the "Debian New Maintainer's Guide", available at http://www.debian.org/doc/maint-guide/
The "Debian Policy Manual" is also an invaluable reference with lots of the finer details and information on making your packages comply with the Debian Policy (a must if you are trying to get them in to the actual distribution), get it at http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/
Here is a link, seen on slashdot, for a guide to making Debian Packages
3 pages link to DebianPackaging: