install and uninstall

i recently installed java on my linux (fedora c1) box i tryid a lot and some how i managed java to work by copying symbolic link to mozilla plugins folder and its working now but i still do not know how to do it in a proper way and im a windows guy and new on linux so im lost please help me please let me know the proper way of how to install and unistall any software programs on linux
Thank you very much

Regards to all
Rajpatel