Here is a shell script that took me a while to write and debug. It is for when I install Ubuntu for the first time. It sets updates packages, installs VLC, GIMP, and others, it tweaks the Swappiness, installs TLP if I am on a laptop, Installs chrome if I want it, and installs GPU drivers.
The script is currently intended for Ubuntu 14.10.
Here it is:
http://codebin.org/view/4ad3b20a
Not too shabby for a first time, although it's obviously very personalised so not all that useful for others besides the unattended nature of it.
Add it to your dot files, and post it on /r/scriptswap.
Thanks! i am working on creating one that will have a menu that lets you pick from a bunch of software and settings and make the changes. kind of like ninite.com
Since you're using Debian (*buntu) maybe check out "preseed" if you haven't already.