I seem to be getting along fine with linux. I have installed it over and over and configured with moderate success a web server, ftp server, mail, mysql etc. One thing is bugging me and I bet someone can help me with this probably super simple question...

I am using ubuntu and Debian flavors of Linux. To install packages using the package manager I use apt-get. Alternatively I have installed from source compiling it and building etc. What I am trying to figure out is, while using apt-get, is there any way to customize the configure settings that get passed to the configure script?

Say for instance apt-get installs PHP with no PFPRO support compiled with it, but I need to support that. There has to be a way to add to the apt-get installation some confugration settings prior to it installing. I would want to add --with-pfpro in this instance. Any help or link to directions or tutorials that might help me accomplish what I am asking would be great. I am sure this will help me drastically with my entire linux life when I figure this out.

This has been bugging me all week and I can not find an answer anywhere. Thanks in advance!