remotion-dev/remotion · error · Error

Failed to create WebGL shader

Error message

Failed to create WebGL shader

What it means

pattern() compiles fixed GLSL shaders during WebGL2 setup. gl.createShader() returns null only when the context is lost or the driver refuses allocation. Because the shader source is fixed in the library, this null almost always indicates a dead/lost context rather than a code defect.

Source

Thrown at packages/effects/src/pattern.ts:402

			if (sampleCell(cell + vec2(float(x), float(y)), fragPx, cropStart, tileSize, pitch, originPx, color)) {
				fragColor = color;
				return;
			}
		}
	}

	fragColor = vec4(0.0);
}
`;

const compileShader = (
	gl: WebGL2RenderingContext,
	type: number,
	source: string,
): WebGLShader => {
	const shader = gl.createShader(type);
	if (!shader) {
		throw new Error('Failed to create WebGL shader');
	}

	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 => {

View on GitHub (pinned to 78fe4bb3fd)

Solutions

1. Ensure a stable WebGL2 context before rendering (GPU available / SwiftShader in CI).
2. Handle 'webglcontextlost' and re-initialize the effect on 'webglcontextrestored'.
3. Avoid stacking many GPU effects in one composition during heavy renders.
4. Update GPU drivers or switch to a software WebGL backend.

try {
  initPattern(canvas); // compiles pattern shaders
} catch (err) {
  if (isContextLost(canvas)) {
    waitForRestore(canvas).then(initPattern); // retry on restore
  } else {
    throw err;
  }
}

When it happens

Trigger: Reached in compileShader() during pattern effect setup, before any user-visible frame. The context returned a valid WebGL2 object from getContext but createShader now returns null (context lost between acquisition and compile).

Common situations: GPU reset mid-setup; context eviction in a long render; headless rendering with an unstable GPU; concurrent renders saturating driver resources.

Related errors

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

AI-assisted analysis of remotion-dev/remotion@78fe4bb3fd (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/946628b9d20a6f93. Report an issue: GitHub.