Yes very good advice if you just want to *use* shaders. Anyone can use shaders if they have the tools it's just copy and paste and following directions. I want to *understand* shaders not just use them. Copy and pasting won't help you any if no one tells you want the stuff does correct? If I just stare and look at tens hundred lines of

if(jghk==fjshd) { return; }

I'm going to learn c-script? No... why I agree it helps to get familar in the above example if you don't know what if, (, ), ==, {, ;, }, return means you'll never understand the best you can do is guess.

Also I know both c-script and directx and have been programming for a while I'm aware it contains a measure of trial and error (okay alot) but if no one ever teaches you the sytnax you will never go far.

I wouldn't think the gamestudio forum is the first place to learn it good points...I guess I don't understand how programmers learn their craft..I thought it was college, books,research...
As far as I understand it, shader programming is pretty standard, and you have to adapt it to GS... I've seen tons of books,websites,papers...(gamasutra).. as well as editors like rendermonkey and CG that can spit out code for you, then you adapt it. Isn't it possible to learn the conversion from DX shaders to GS shaders from forums examples? (drew bows out of conversation)

Dan Niezgocki(Rhuarc) wrote an article on how to make your first shader in the May edition of 3PM. Just check the link in my signature if your intrested.

BTW(Steempipe) - Thanks for working on a terrain shader tutorial. I cant wait to read it!

And drew knows what he's talking about - you only need to look at some of the normal mapping posts to see his amazing work!

What would be nice is if, at some point, shaders (even if extremely basic) are covered in the C-Script workshops that are currently being created.

Well shaders are pretty new to 3dgs, so it's just a matter of time until someone starts a tutorial for newbs.
I guess it's best you read that book you ordered then, Wizrealms
Another good way to learn shaders is the way I would have done it, get info on some of the guy on this forums, get his msn email, get to know the guy, and have him teach you the basics of shaders if he's nice enough.