remotion-dev/remotion · critical · Error

Failed to create WebGL program

Error message

Failed to create WebGL program

What it means

While linking the noiseDisplacement effect's compiled shaders into a WebGL program, gl.createProgram() returned null. The WebGL2 context compiled shaders successfully but cannot allocate a program object, indicating context degradation or severe resource exhaustion.

Source

Thrown at packages/effects/src/noise-displacement.ts:428

	if (!gl.getShaderParameter(shader, gl.COMPILE_STATUS)) {
		const log = gl.getShaderInfoLog(shader);
		gl.deleteShader(shader);
		throw new Error(
			`Noise displacement 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(
			`Noise displacement program link failed: ${log ?? '(no log)'}`,
		);
	}

	return program;
};

const setupNoiseDisplacement = (
	target: HTMLCanvasElement,

View on GitHub (pinned to 78fe4bb3fd)

Solutions

1. Reduce concurrent WebGL effects to lower program allocation pressure.
2. Handle WebGL context loss and retry after restoration.
3. Update GPU drivers or use a more capable GPU.
4. Verify headless Chrome GPU configuration supports WebGL2 program creation.

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

When it happens

Trigger: During setupNoiseDisplacement, linkProgram calls gl.createProgram() which returns null. This happens after both shaders compiled successfully, indicating the context is alive but cannot create program objects.

Common situations: Context loss during setup; GPU memory exhaustion from many concurrent programs; driver bugs under load; headless environments with marginal WebGL2 support.

Related errors

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

AI-assisted analysis of remotion-dev/remotion@78fe4bb3fd (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/895d9e4f6c9cb24a. Report an issue: GitHub.