MultiBit is an open source, cross-platform and freely downloadable graphical software implemented in Java and designed from the offset to act as a secure, ligthweight and international Bitcoin wallet, tailored specifically for users who are looking for a Bitcoin wallet that just works.

MultiBit is a easy to install, allows users to easily and quickly perform Bitcoin transactions with just a few mouse clicks, supports several languages, and it's very secure, storing all your private keys encrypted on your personal computer.

To use the MultiBit application on a GNU/Linux operating system, you will have to install it using the Java installer provided on this page or on the project’s website (see the homepage link at the end of the article). Download and save the JAR file on your desktop.

Make sure that you have the latest Oracle Java installed, then double click the installer. Install MultiBit by following the on-screen instructions. If a shortcut is created on the desktop, use it to fire up the application, otherwise double click on the multibit-exe.jar file from inside the ‘MultiBit’ folder on your Home directory.

The application will open and it will start synchronizing with the Bitcoin network, a process that will take some time, depending on your computer’s specs. It uses tabs to allow you to easily navigate between send, receive and transactions views, but we strongly suggest you to read the information displayed on the Welcome tab.

Taking a look under the hood of the MultiBit application, we can notice that it has been written entirely in the Java programming language, which means that it is a platform-independent software supported on any operating system where the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) technology is available, including all GNU/Linux distributions, as well as Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It is a dontationware application that supports 32 and 64-bit computer platforms.