RE: New Debian user here
Debian allows you to compile your sources for any package, without messing
up the system at all.
The normal procedure to install software is the use of "apt-get install"
which deals with binary packages.
Though you can use the "apt-get source" command to download debianiazed
sources of the same package, and compile trhem yourself into a debian
package, with your own options if you please.
Also, the debian packaging system makes it quite easy to backport, say a
package from unstable onto your stable system and use it, so you stay up to
date with that version, on a stable Debian installation.
The very good point of this is that your installation remains in a very
coherent state about dependencies, since you keep dealing with them in the
"Debian way"
You can have a look at debian policies (package "debian-policy"), and if you
want to compile/create/backport your own debian packages from source you
should install the "devscripts" package and have a look for a start at the
"debuild" (and other related commands) manpage.
For installing software that is not packaged into Debian, you have the
choice to either compile them the "usual" way and have them installed into
/usr/local/, or to build your own debian packages, which can be quite some
work indeed.
Vincent
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