Can someone explain apt repository's to me, and how I can create one to deploy my own programs?

Hello,

I have been searching google for some time now on this, but can't really find a good explanation on it.

Here is what i want: - Create a debian repository - Deploy my own program (written in C, and compiled to a binary file) though that repository - I have two different clients architectures, and i want the repository to support both with my binaries (will get compiled for each architecture, so i have a binary for each)

I want to be able to just compile the C program, copy the binary file to a folder (and other related files, like configs), run a script that does the magic and then just do a "apt-get update && apt-get upgrade" on the clients to get the updated version of the program.

Also, the program i wrote, needs some config files, can i get the repository to serve the client a config on first install of the program and then ignore it if it has changes? (Then what happens if i add something new to the config file and clients update?? Will they get a new config and their old one deleted??)

Is it possible to make something like this, so i can just type in "apt-get install myprogram" on a client to get the program and update it with the "apt-get upgrade"?? can someone explain how all this works? I have never done anything but using apt to install stuff like every linux user does!

(or if anyone have found a great guide somewhere, then throw me a link!)