non-Debian package

[Holp, John Mr.]

Debian Warriors,

        Is there a general technique or utility that allows one to install a
non-Debina package on a Debian system?

        I am finding very sketchy information about a thing called
"alien"         syntax something like;

        alien package_name.rpm

        Will apparently convert/create a Red Hat ".rpm" package to a Debian
".deb" package  ??

        I don't think apt or apt-get need or understand packages with the
.deb suffix.  So is it possible to use apt or apt-get on a non-Debian
package to install it on a Debian system?

        man alien, whereis alien, whatis alien, etc., etc produce no
indication of such a thing on my Debian 2.2.17 machine.


Thanks,


John D. Holp