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[BUG]: WebGL debugging: unclear origin of regl.clear() warnings in scattergl rendering

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Assessment

Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Newbie friendliness
35/100
Issue type
Bug
Clarity
Needs clarification
Activity status
Quiet
Tech stack
javascript
Domain
computer-graphics, data-visualization

Research direction

Start by reviewing issue #7387 and its associated fix #7390, then trace the scattergl rendering path that can call regl.clear(). The issue names no files or tests; done would require an agreed implementation that makes warnings identify the triggering trace or rendering location and verifies the resulting debug output.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Description

bug size: 1
Description

While working on issue #7387 and the associated fix (#7390), I noticed that debugging WebGL-related warnings (specifically those related to regl.clear()) can be difficult due to a lack of contextual information about where the call originates.

In strict or debug environments, warnings such as:
"clear() called with no buffers in bitmask"
may appear without clearly indicating which rendering path or trace triggered them.

This makes it harder for contributors and developers to trace the source of the issue, especially when working with scattergl or other WebGL-based traces.

Steps to Reproduce
  1. Use a WebGL-based trace (e.g., scattergl)
  2. Run in a development or strict/debug environment
  3. Trigger a render/update cycle
  4. Observe WebGL warnings in console
Expected Behavior

Warnings should provide enough context to help identify:

  • which trace type triggered the call
  • where in the rendering pipeline it originated
Actual Behavior

Warnings appear without clear contextual linkage to the rendering path, making debugging less efficient.

Suggested Improvement

Consider improving developer experience by:

  • adding contextual debug information (e.g., trace type or module)
  • documenting expected regl.clear() usage more explicitly
  • optionally enhancing debug logging in development mode
Additional Context

This observation is based on my contribution to fix issue #7387:
https://github.com/plotly/plotly.js/issues/7387

Dominant language
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