remotion-dev/remotion · error · Error

Failed to create WebGL program

Error message

Failed to create WebGL program

What it means

pattern() links the compiled vertex and fragment shaders into a program. gl.createProgram() returns null only when the GL context is lost or the driver refuses the allocation. This guard fails fast instead of calling attachShader/linkProgram on null.

Source

Thrown at packages/effects/src/pattern.ts:423

	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(`Pattern 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(`Pattern program link failed: ${log ?? '(no log)'}`);
	}

	return program;
};

export const pattern = createEffect<PatternParams, PatternState>({
	type: 'dev.remotion.effects.pattern',
	label: 'pattern()',
	documentationLink: 'https://www.remotion.dev/docs/effects/pattern',

View on GitHub (pinned to 78fe4bb3fd)

Solutions

1. Guarantee a live WebGL2 context (handle webglcontextlost/restored).
2. Reduce concurrent GPU effects per composition.
3. Use a stable GPU/SwiftShader backend in headless rendering.
4. Update GPU drivers.

try {
  initPattern(canvas); // links the pattern program
} catch (err) {
  if (isContextLost(canvas)) waitForRestore(canvas).then(initPattern);
  else throw err;
}

When it happens

Trigger: Reached in linkProgram() after both shaders compiled successfully. createProgram returns null because the context was lost between shader compilation and program creation, during pattern effect setup.

Common situations: Context loss mid-setup; driver resource exhaustion on heavy compositions; GPU reset during a render batch.

Related errors

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

AI-assisted analysis of remotion-dev/remotion@78fe4bb3fd (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/98ac6df2317c32cd. Report an issue: GitHub.