How to Install Minecraft on Linux:

UPDATE (20150418):
Minecraft no longer requires system-wide Java to install. It will get what it needs of Java automatically, and make it only available to itself. This makes Minecraft run better, and more securely!


Original Post (20141002):
Specifically I have done this, and know that it works, on Linux Mint 17. But any compatible flavor should work!

The commands are:

Instructions for installing Oracle Java 7 on Ubuntu, Linux Mint and their derivative systems:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-installer

How To Install Minecraft On Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Elementary OS and their derivative systems:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:minecraft-installer-peeps/minecraft-installer
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install minecraft-installer 

I originally got these from this source. Many thanks to them.


Have fun!
-J