I use equivs to create a virtual package that does nothing but depends/recommends/suggests other packages. I have two dfc.deb and dfc-workstation.deb, dfc-workstation adds GUI/multimedia/end-user tools that I do not need everywhere. When I get a new machine I can install these packages and all of the things I depend on will be installed. If publicfile was in debian it would be automatically installed. As it is I have to copy the package I created with checkinstall and install it manually.