remotion-dev/remotion · critical · Error

Failed to create WebGL program

Error message

Failed to create WebGL program

What it means

Thrown by halftone-linear-gradient's linkProgram (halftone-linear-gradient.ts:399) when gl.createProgram() returns null. Like the null-shader case, a null program indicates a lost WebGL2 context or severe resource exhaustion; the library cannot call attachShader/linkProgram on null.

Source

Thrown at packages/effects/src/halftone-linear-gradient.ts:399

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

	return program;
};

export const halftoneLinearGradient = createEffect<
	HalftoneLinearGradientParams,

View on GitHub (pinned to 78fe4bb3fd)

Solutions

1. Handle webglcontextlost; recreate state on webglcontextrestored.
2. Ensure cleanup() deletes programs (halftone cleanup frees the program).
3. Limit concurrent WebGL2 effects; render sequentially.
4. Restart browser/GPU; update drivers if the failure is reproducible.

Example fix

// before: setup per render, no teardown -> programs leak -> null
const state = halftone.setup(canvas);

// after: setup once, pair with cleanup
useEffect(() => {
  const state = halftone.setup(canvas);
  return () => halftone.cleanup(state);
}, []);

if (gl.isContextLost()) {
  throw new Error('WebGL2 context lost; cannot create program');
}

null

try {
  halftoneLinearGradient.setup(canvas);
} catch (e) {
  if (e instanceof Error && e.message === 'Failed to create WebGL program') {
    // context loss / resource exhaustion
  }
  throw e;
}

When it happens

Trigger: Called during setup after both shaders compiled successfully (line 448). Triggered by a lost context, or by accumulated GL objects exhausting the driver's program budget.

Common situations: Long renders leaking programs; many concurrent WebGL effects/compositions; GPU reset mid-render; constrained software renderer.

Related errors

• Failed to create WebGL program
• Failed to create WebGL shader
• Failed to create WebGL program
• Failed to create white balance shader program
• Failed to create WebGL program

AI-assisted analysis of remotion-dev/remotion@78fe4bb3fd (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/ebb74334fa5955cb. Report an issue: GitHub.