to fetch keys from a keyserver automatically, you need to edit your ~/.gnugpg/gpg.conf
uncomment/add the following lines:

keyserver-options auto-key-retrieve

keyserver x-hkp://pgp.mit.edu

first, make sure the qt-libs and -headers are installed. with sid, this should look like this:

kyuss:/# dpkg -l | grep qt3
ii libqt3-compat-headers
ii libqt3-headers
ii libqt3-mt-dev
ii libqt3c102
ii libqt3c102-mt3
ii qt3-dev-tools


now tell configure where qt is found:

./configure --with-qt-dir=/usr/lib/qt3 --with-qt-includes=/usr/include/qt3

if you use the debian-way of packaging, just edit the appropriate line in debian/rules the same.

sometimes you find a new piece of software that you want to take a look at, which isn't in the official debian distribution, or you just find a newer (and maybe unstable) release with the cutting-edge feature you just have been looking for. some developers put debian packages on their pages, maybe you find it in a repository on apt-get.org or via google. if you can't find a deb or just want to build one for yourself anyway, here's a quick and pretty dirty description on how to do it. before doing anythig, read any readme's, install's and crawl through the application's doc directory and its homepage. those places provide useful information on how to build the software without getting headaches!

first, you have to set up a proper 'packaging-environment'. therefore you should install dh-make, gcc and g++:

apt-get install dh-make gcc g++

this installs all the tools neccessary for building your own packages (other tools like fakeroot are not neccessary but would come in handy, so you might want to install it).

check the source directory of the application you want to build for a debian directory. this directory contains all the information needed by the building and packaging tools. some developers have already done this, an example would be mplayer. if you can't find such a directory, you have to create one by running

dh_make

within the source directory. always choose single-binaries.

if you have any parameters to pass for ./configure, open debian/rules and edit the appropriate line. having done this, change to the sources root directory and call

fakeroot debian/rules binary

to start the configure, building and packaging process. there's a good chance that ./configure will stop, telling you that needed applications or libraries or can't be found. in that case, just search for the missing package with

apt-cache search <string1> <sring2>

or search packages.debian.org and install it. run

fakeroot debian/rules binary

again, and repeat the above steps until ./configure finishes succsessfully and the building process starts.

if the process runs through without further errors, you'll find the debian-package one directory lever higher. to install, become root and type:

dpkg -i ../<yourpackage>.deb

note : as mentioned in the beginning, this was quick and dirty. to learn how to create packages the debian way correctly, read the debian new maintainers' guide.

a german translation of this short how-to can be found on debianforum.de.