The basics may not be that hard, but the multitude of overlapping tools and frameworks that sit on top of them and try to make things easier is seriously confus

The basics may not be that hard, but the multitude of overlapping tools and frameworks that sit on top of them and try to make things easier is seriously confusing and offputting. For instance, there are build tools called dpkg-buildpackage, debuild, git-buildpackage, pbuilder, cowbuilder, and doubtless some others I've forgotten about. Different guides will recommend different ones. Once you've made a package, you either try to get it into Debian, or put it in your own repository, both of which come with additional challenges. I've done some Debian packaging before - both to go into Debian and to put in PPAs. I've given it up: the effort was too much and the rewards too little.