Create the structure

   mkdir your_package-0.0.1
   cd your_package-0.0.1/
   export DEBEMAIL=foo@bla.co.za  (you can also set DEBFULLNAME)
   dh_make -s -n  (or dh_make -s -n -i gpl)

Add your content

• Source files
• Makefile: ensure that you have the following sections: (see example Makefile below)

   all:
   clean:
   install:

Build the deb

   fakeroot debian/rules binary

Start tweaking

• inspect the deb

   dpkg-deb --contents ../your_package_0.0.1_all.deb
   dpkg-deb -I         ../your_package_0.0.1_all.deb
   dpkg-deb -x         ../your_package_0.0.1_all.deb /tmp/xxx
   (mc is also a very convenient way to 'browse' the deb)

• minimum required in the 'debian' directory:

   changelog
   compat
   control
   copyright
   rules

• fix these:

   copyright
   control  (architecture & section)

Clean up

   rm debian/*ex  (once done with these examples)

When you make changes later on

To 'up' the revision and update the changelog:

   dch -i

Example Makefile

all: hello
clean:
       @rm -f *~ hello
hello: hello.c
       $(CC) $< -o $@
install: hello
       install -d $(DESTDIR)/usr/sbin/
       install -c -m 0755 hello $(DESTDIR)/usr/sbin/

Example Source file: hello.c

#include <stdio.h>
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
   printf("Hello world\n");
}