remotion-dev/remotion · critical · Error

Failed to create WebGL program

Error message

Failed to create WebGL program

What it means

While linking the mirror effect's compiled shaders into a WebGL program, gl.createProgram() returned null. The WebGL2 context is available but cannot allocate a new program object, typically due to context loss or severe GPU resource exhaustion.

Source

Thrown at packages/effects/src/mirror/mirror-runtime.ts:50

	gl.shaderSource(shader, source);
	gl.compileShader(shader);
	if (!gl.getShaderParameter(shader, gl.COMPILE_STATUS)) {
		const log = gl.getShaderInfoLog(shader);
		gl.deleteShader(shader);
		throw new Error(`Shader compile failed: ${log ?? '(no log)'}`);
	}

	return shader;
};

const linkProgram = (
	gl: WebGL2RenderingContext,
	vs: WebGLShader,
	fs: WebGLShader,
): WebGLProgram => {
	const program = gl.createProgram();
	if (!program) {
		throw new Error('Failed to create WebGL program');
	}

	gl.attachShader(program, vs);
	gl.attachShader(program, fs);
	gl.linkProgram(program);
	if (!gl.getProgramParameter(program, gl.LINK_STATUS)) {
		const log = gl.getProgramInfoLog(program);
		gl.deleteProgram(program);
		throw new Error(`Program link failed: ${log ?? '(no log)'}`);
	}

	return program;
};

const createProgram = (
	gl: WebGL2RenderingContext,
	vertexSource: string,
	fragmentSource: string,

View on GitHub (pinned to 78fe4bb3fd)

Solutions

1. Reduce the number of concurrent WebGL effects being set up.
2. Ensure a healthy WebGL2 context — check for context loss and retry after the context is restored.
3. Use a more capable GPU or updated drivers in the render environment.
4. For headless rendering, verify the Chrome/GPU configuration supports program allocation.

try {
  // apply mirror effect
} catch (e) {
  if (e instanceof Error && e.message.includes('WebGL program')) {
    console.warn('WebGL program creation failed, falling back without mirror');
    // fallback rendering path
  } else {
    throw e;
  }
}

When it happens

Trigger: During setupMirror, linkProgram calls gl.createProgram() which returns null. This occurs after shaders have already compiled successfully, indicating the context can compile shaders but cannot create program objects.

Common situations: Context loss mid-setup; GPU memory exhaustion from too many simultaneous WebGL programs; driver bugs under heavy load; headless environments with marginal WebGL2 support.

Related errors

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

AI-assisted analysis of remotion-dev/remotion@78fe4bb3fd (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/73326850465309e3. Report an issue: GitHub.