If the package exists in some other Unux distribution, it can often be converted to a Debian package. This is done using a package called alien. Alien provides commands to convert between a number of package formats (including Red Hat RPM, Stampede SLP, Slackware TGZ, Solaris PKG, and Debian DEB).
In general, the conversion itself is fairly straightforward. Although the results cannot be guaranteed, the converted package often will install okay under Debian. Any problems that do occur are most likely to be caused by different library dependency names, or even differences in software level identification.
All is not lost when this happens, however. Alien can perform a partial conversion, essentially stopping at the point where it has created the temporary directory from which itnormally builds the Debian package. You can then go into the directory and make the necessary modifications, and then complete the build manually.
