stride3d/stride · error · InvalidOperationException

EffectCompiler returned no shader and no compilation error.

Error message

EffectCompiler returned no shader and no compilation error.

What it means

After CheckResult passes (no compile errors), EffectSystem asserts that the compiler returned actual shader bytecode. If EffectBytecodeCompilerResult.Bytecode is null despite a clean log, this internal invariant is violated and InvalidOperationException is thrown.

Solutions

Update/reinstall the Stride compiler packages so compiler and runtime versions match.
Clear the shader cache (obj/strip, shader cache folders) and rebuild.
If a custom IEffectCompiler is used, ensure Bytecode is set on success.
File/report as a bug with the effect name if using stock Stride.

Example fix

// custom compiler before
return new EffectBytecodeCompilerResult { CompilationLog = log }; // Bytecode never set
// after
return new EffectBytecodeCompilerResult { Bytecode = compiledBytecode, CompilationLog = log };

Defensive patterns

Strategy: try-catch

Try / catch

try { var effect = effectSystem.LoadEffect("MyEffect"); }
catch (InvalidOperationException ex) when (ex.Message.Contains("returned no shader"))
{
    log.Error(ex, "EffectCompiler produced no bytecode; clear shader cache and verify compiler/runtime versions");
}

Prevention

Keep Stride runtime and EffectCompiler packages at identical versions.
Clear shader cache directories when upgrading Stride.
Treat this as a bug report trigger if it reproduces with stock Stride.

When it happens

Trigger: A compiler plugin/backend returning success without producing bytecode; custom EffectCompiler implementations that forget to set Bytecode; broken compiler cache entries.

Common situations: Using a custom or outdated EffectCompiler pipeline (e.g. mismatched Stride compiler assemblies), or a corrupted shader cache.

Understand the failure class

Background: "This is a bug, please report it": internal invariant violations, unreachable panics, and SNH errors explained — this error's family across 47 libraries.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of stride3d/stride@96fad776d2 (2026-09-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/84bb4a15704f06b1. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at sources/engine/Stride.Rendering/Rendering/EffectSystem.cs:203

            lock (cachedEffects)
            {
                if (!isInitialized)
                    throw new ObjectDisposedException(nameof(EffectSystem), "EffectSystem has been disposed. This Effect compilation has been cancelled.");

                if (effectBytecodeCompilerResult.CompilationLog.HasErrors)
                {
                    // Unregister result
                    // TODO: Should we keep it so that failure never change?
                    if (earlyCompilerCache.TryGetValue(effectName, out List<CompilerResults> effectCompilerResults))
                    {
                        effectCompilerResults.Remove(compilerResult);
                    }
                }

                CheckResult(effectBytecodeCompilerResult.CompilationLog);

                var bytecode = effectBytecodeCompilerResult.Bytecode
                    ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("EffectCompiler returned no shader and no compilation error.");

                if (!cachedEffects.TryGetValue(bytecode, out effect))
                {
                    effect = new Effect(GraphicsDevice, bytecode) { Name = effectName };
                    cachedEffects.Add(bytecode, effect);

#if STRIDE_PLATFORM_DESKTOP
                    foreach (var type in bytecode.HashSources.Keys)
                    {
                        var storagePath = EffectCompilerBase.GetStoragePathFromShaderType(type);
                        if (!FileProvider.TryGetFileLocation(storagePath, out var filePath, out _, out _))
                        {
                            // TODO: the "/path" is hardcoded, used in ImportStreamCommand and ShaderSourceManager. Find a place to share this correctly.
                            var pathUrl = storagePath + "/path";
                            if (FileProvider.FileExists(pathUrl))
                            {
                                using var pathStream = FileProvider.OpenStream(pathUrl, VirtualFileMode.Open, VirtualFileAccess.Read);
                                using var reader = new StreamReader(pathStream);

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