You are an experienced programmer and have a problem with the engine, shaders, or advanced effects? Here you'll get answers. No questions about C++ programming or topics which are answered in the tutorials!
You can do it with shaders but you don't actually have to use shaders really. You could check out the various attempts at mirrors people have made (search the forum) or if you are comfortable with shaders then you could check out Elvman's realistic water scene node in the projects forum as reflective water is obviously basically the same but with added waves and refractions.
I wouldn't use a shader unless you need to modify the reflection on a per pixel level, this thread http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/phpBB2/ ... reflection shows how to achieve this. I also listed the pros and cons of each method.
"Irrlicht is obese"
If you want modern rendering techniques learn how to make them or go to the engine next door =p
Yeah you'd want a shader if you need dynamic reflections but if you've no need for movement in the reflections, like in the picture above, you can just use inverted geometry below the floor.
No, the shader has nothing to do with how dynamic the scene can be, the inverted geometry can be animated in the same way as normal geometry, the shader is only needed for distortions/floor illumination model.
"Irrlicht is obese"
If you want modern rendering techniques learn how to make them or go to the engine next door =p