How to unpack and prepare the files: Make sure that the debian/rules file is executable (chmod 755 debian/rules). In the file called version.txt in the root directory where you unpacked the library, is the version number. If the debian/changelog file has a different version number in the topmost change, then add a new change by running dch -v 1.0.8-0.1 -p "unofficial personal package" (replacing 1.0.8 by the current version number. Then modify the versions in the debian/control file to match those of the library. How to make the .deb, .tar.gz, .dsc and .changes files: cd rhtvision-directory dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot To check the package (binary and source): cd .. lintian -i *.deb *.dsc To clean everything after building: cd rhtvision-directory fakeroot debian/rules clean Other notes: - There is a clean-debian target on the debian/rules file, it only cleans Debian specific files and not upstream build files. It is useful when you just want for example to rebuild the package without recompiling the sources (use debian/rules clean-debian). - To rebuild the packages without recompiling the sources, use the binary target on the debian/rules file (debian/rules binary).