Writing this for myself and others since most documentation online, official or otherwise, tend to make it look way more complicated than it really is.

1. Install the required packages: $ sudo apt install build-essential devscripts dh-make lintian

2. Fetch the source code: $ wget https://example.com/path/to/pkgname/vx.y.z.tar.gz

3. Unpack the source code: $ tar xvf /path/to/your/vx.y.z.tar.gz

4. Make sure the unpacked source code is in all lowercase

5. Change directory to the unpacked source code: $ cd /path/to/your/pkgname-x.y.z

6. Run this: $ dh_make --native. Choose s for arch-specific stuff, i for arch-independent stuff (such as Node.js programs)

7. This creates a debian/ subdirectory in the source code. Delete all files except the following in debian/ (if the other files are required, we can add them back later):

   • debian/changelog
   • debian/control
   • debian/copyright
   • debian/rules
   • debian/source/format

   See also: https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/maint-guide/dreq.en.html#rules

8. Modify the remaining files under debian/ accordingly

9. Create a file debian/<pkgname>.install. It has the following format:

   some/file path/to/destination/
   some/folder/* path/to/destination/folder/
   ... (e.g.)
   myexec usr/bin/
   

10. Ensuring your current directory is /path/to/your/pkgname-x.y.z, run this: $ dpkg-buildpackage -us -uc

11. A deb is generated in /path/to/your/pkgname-x.y.z/... Lint the deb: $ lintian /path/to/your/pkgname_x.y.z_all.deb

12. If the linting gave no errors and few warnings, you're done - enjoy :-)