remotion-dev/remotion · critical · Error

Failed to create WebGL buffer

Error message

Failed to create WebGL buffer

What it means

During thermal vision effect `setup`, `gl.createBuffer()` returned `null` while allocating the vertex buffer for the fullscreen quad. The GL context cannot allocate a buffer object, usually due to context loss or resource exhaustion. The VAO has been created and bound when this fires.

Source

Thrown at packages/effects/src/thermal-vision.ts:252

	gl.pixelStorei(gl.UNPACK_PREMULTIPLY_ALPHA_WEBGL, true);

	const program = createProgram(gl, THERMAL_VISION_VS, THERMAL_VISION_FS);

	const vao = gl.createVertexArray();
	if (!vao) {
		throw new Error('Failed to create WebGL vertex array');
	}

	gl.bindVertexArray(vao);

	const data = new Float32Array([
		-1, -1, 0, 0, 1, -1, 1, 0, -1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1,
	]);

	const vbo = gl.createBuffer();
	if (!vbo) {
		throw new Error('Failed to create WebGL buffer');
	}

	gl.bindBuffer(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER, vbo);
	gl.bufferData(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER, data, gl.STATIC_DRAW);

	const aPos = gl.getAttribLocation(program, 'aPos');
	const aUv = gl.getAttribLocation(program, 'aUv');
	gl.enableVertexAttribArray(aPos);
	gl.vertexAttribPointer(aPos, 2, gl.FLOAT, false, 16, 0);
	gl.enableVertexAttribArray(aUv);
	gl.vertexAttribPointer(aUv, 2, gl.FLOAT, false, 16, 8);

	gl.bindVertexArray(null);

	const colorCanvas = document.createElement('canvas');
	colorCanvas.width = 1;
	colorCanvas.height = 1;
	const colorCtx = colorCanvas.getContext('2d', {willReadFrequently: true});

View on GitHub (pinned to 78fe4bb3fd)

Solutions

1. Reduce concurrent webgl2 effect instances.
2. Restart the session for a fresh context.
3. Ensure adequate GPU memory (close other GPU-heavy apps).
4. Handle `webglcontextlost` events and reinitialize effect state.

try {
  thermalVision({...params});
} catch (e) {
  if (/Failed to create WebGL buffer/.test((e as Error).message)) {
    renderFallbackFrame();
  } else throw e;
}

When it happens

Trigger: Context lost after VAO creation; GPU buffer memory exhausted; degraded/destroyed GL context.

Common situations: Many concurrent webgl2 effects; memory-constrained mobile devices; long-running sessions; headless CI with limited GL memory.

Related errors

• Failed to create WebGL buffer
• Failed to create WebGL shader
• Failed to create WebGL program
• Failed to create WebGL texture
• Failed to create WebGL vertex array

AI-assisted analysis of remotion-dev/remotion@78fe4bb3fd (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/77e5a223af3b6baa. Report an issue: GitHub.