[Linux][Impeller] Continuous whole-window flicker / slow incomplete redraws on Mesa SVGA3D (VM) GPU — regression since Impeller became default in 3.47 #192915

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1. suryaKommana2662

   added

   in triagePresently being triaged by the triage teamPresently being triaged by the triage team

   on Sep 17, 2026
2. suryaKommana2662 commented on Sep 17, 2026

   

   suryaKommana2662

   on Sep 17, 2026

   Last edited by suryaKommana2662

   Contributor

   More actions

   @gkirkendall Thanks for the detailed report. I tested this locally on Flutter 3.47.4 stable using a ChromeOS Linux container with the following environment:
   Mesa OpenGL/ES renderer: llvmpipe
   Impeller rendering backend: OpenGLESSDF

   The reported issue was reproduced in the reporter's environment with a Mesa SVGA3D renderer on a VMware virtual machine. I left the application running and observed it for several minutes, but did not observe the reported continuous whole-window flickering, blank frames, or incomplete redraws in my environment. I also confirmed that Impeller was active during the test:
   Using the Impeller rendering backend (OpenGLESSDF).
   The main difference between the two environments is the graphics renderer: the reporter uses SVGA3D, while my ChromeOS Linux container uses llvmpipe. I have included the file used for this local test below. routing to the team-engine for further investigation

   code

   import 'dart:async';
   
   import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
   
   void main() {
     runApp(const FlickerReproApp());
   }
   
   class FlickerReproApp extends StatelessWidget {
     const FlickerReproApp({super.key});
   
     @override
     Widget build(BuildContext context) {
       return MaterialApp(
         debugShowCheckedModeBanner: false,
         home: const FlickerReproPage(),
       );
     }
   }
   
   class FlickerReproPage extends StatefulWidget {
     const FlickerReproPage({super.key});
   
     @override
     State<FlickerReproPage> createState() => _FlickerReproPageState();
   }
   
   class _FlickerReproPageState extends State<FlickerReproPage> {
     Timer? _timer;
     int _counter = 0;
   
     @override
     void initState() {
       super.initState();
   
       _timer = Timer.periodic(const Duration(seconds: 2), (_) {
         if (mounted) {
           setState(() {
             _counter++;
           });
         }
       });
     }
   
     @override
     void dispose() {
       _timer?.cancel();
       super.dispose();
     }
   
     @override
     Widget build(BuildContext context) {
       return Scaffold(
         appBar: AppBar(title: const Text('Impeller Flicker Reproduction')),
         body: Center(
           child: SizedBox(
             width: 600,
             child: Card(
               child: Padding(
                 padding: const EdgeInsets.all(32),
                 child: Column(
                   mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
                   crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.stretch,
                   children: [
                     const Text(
                       'Settings',
                       style: TextStyle(fontSize: 32, fontWeight: FontWeight.bold),
                     ),
                     const SizedBox(height: 24),
                     const Text(
                       'Moderately complex Flutter UI for testing rendering.',
                     ),
                     const SizedBox(height: 24),
                     const TextField(
                       decoration: InputDecoration(
                         labelText: 'Username',
                         border: OutlineInputBorder(),
                       ),
                     ),
                     const SizedBox(height: 16),
                     const TextField(
                       obscureText: true,
                       decoration: InputDecoration(
                         labelText: 'Password',
                         border: OutlineInputBorder(),
                       ),
                     ),
                     const SizedBox(height: 24),
                     FilledButton(onPressed: () {}, child: const Text('Sign in')),
                     const SizedBox(height: 24),
                     Row(
                       children: [
                         const Icon(Icons.info_outline),
                         const SizedBox(width: 12),
                         Text('Rebuild count: $_counter'),
                       ],
                     ),
                   ],
                 ),
               ),
             ),
           ),
         ),
       );
     }
   }

   Flutter Doctor Output

   [✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.47.4, on Ubuntu 26.04
       LTS 6.6.135-09383-g1140e4f27e24, locale C.UTF-8)
       [43ms]
       • Flutter version 3.47.4 on channel stable at
         /home/suryak2662/flutter
       • Upstream repository
         https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
       • Framework revision 9584c6713b (6 days ago),
         2026-09-10 15:25:10 -0700
       • Engine revision 06a2e2a110
       • Dart version 3.13.3
       • DevTools version 2.60.0
       • Feature flags: enable-web,
         enable-linux-desktop, enable-macos-desktop,
         enable-windows-desktop, enable-android,
         enable-ios, cli-animations,
         enable-native-assets, enable-record-use,
         enable-swift-package-manager,
         omit-legacy-version-file,
         enable-lldb-debugging, enable-uiscene-migration
   
   [✓] Android toolchain - develop for Android devices
       (Android SDK version 36.0.0) [2.5s]
       • Android SDK at /home/suryak2662/Android/Sdk
       • Emulator version 36.6.11.0 (build_id 15507667)
         (CL:N/A)
       • Platform android-36, build-tools 36.0.0
       ! Multiple adb binaries found. This can cause
         conflicts and device detection issues:
           -
           /home/suryak2662/Android/Sdk/platform-tools/a
           db
           - /usr/lib/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb
       • Java binary at:
         /opt/android-studio/jbr/bin/java
         This JDK is specified in your Flutter
         configuration.
         To change the current JDK, run: `flutter config
         --jdk-dir="path/to/jdk"`.
       • Java version OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build
         21.0.10+-14961533-b1163.108)
       • All Android licenses accepted.
   
   [✓] Chrome - develop for the web [14ms]
       • Chrome at google-chrome
   
   [✓] Linux toolchain - develop for Linux desktop
       [687ms]
       • Ubuntu clang version 21.1.8 (6ubuntu1)
       • cmake version 4.2.3
       • ninja version 1.13.2
       • pkg-config version 2.5.1
       • OpenGL core renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 21.1.8,
         256 bits)
       • OpenGL core version: 4.5 (Core Profile) Mesa
         26.0.3-1ubuntu1
       • OpenGL core shading language version: 4.50
       • OpenGL ES renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 21.1.8, 256
         bits)
       • OpenGL ES version: OpenGL ES 3.2 Mesa
         26.0.3-1ubuntu1
       • OpenGL ES shading language version: OpenGL ES
         GLSL ES 3.20
       • GL_EXT_framebuffer_blit: yes
       • GL_EXT_texture_format_BGRA8888: yes
   
   [✓] Connected device (2 available) [189ms]
       • Linux (desktop) • linux  • linux-x64      •
         Ubuntu 26.04 LTS 6.6.135-09383-g1140e4f27e24
       • Chrome (web)    • chrome • web-javascript •
         Google Chrome 150.0.7871.128
   
   [✓] Network resources [9.4s]
       • All expected network resources are available.
   
   • No issues found!
3. suryaKommana2662

   added

   platform-linuxBuilding on or for Linux specificallyBuilding on or for Linux specifically

   c: renderingUI glitches reported at the engine/skia or impeller rendering levelUI glitches reported at the engine/skia or impeller rendering level

   e: impellerImpeller rendering backend issues and features requestsImpeller rendering backend issues and features requests

   team-engineOwned by Engine teamOwned by Engine team

   and removed

   in triagePresently being triaged by the triage teamPresently being triaged by the triage team

   on Sep 17, 2026
4. infinite-persistence commented on Sep 17, 2026

   

   infinite-persistence

   on Sep 17, 2026

   More actions

   Environment

   • Flutter default hello world example
   • Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon 64-bit in VMWare (Graphics: VMWare SVGA II Adapter)

   Output

   • Flickers when the "+" button is clicked
   • Components go out of place when window is resized ("+" is detached from the button, banner doesn't refresh, etc.)
   • Issue goes away with --no-enable-impeller

   impeller.mp4
5. gaaclarke

   added

   P2Important issues not at the top of the work listImportant issues not at the top of the work list

   triaged-engineTriaged by Engine teamTriaged by Engine team

   on Sep 21, 2026
6. daniele-athome commented on Oct 2, 2026

   

   daniele-athome

   on Oct 2, 2026

   More actions

   For people searching the "workaround" keyword within the page 🙃 the workaround is adding this parameter to the run command:

   flutter run --no-enable-impeller
   
7. crossle

   added a commit that references this issue on Oct 21, 2026

   Disable Impeller on Linux (#2080)

   ...

   1e17301
8. GVladi commented on Oct 21, 2026

   

   GVladi

   on Oct 21, 2026

   More actions

   6. For people searching the "workaround" keyword within the page 🙃 the workaround is adding this parameter to the run command:
   flutter run --no-enable-impeller

   But you cannot do it, if you are just running a flutter desktop app built by someone else.

   I can confirm the same rendering issue when Impeller is used on my VMWare Kubuntu VM:

   [✓] Flutter (Channel stable, 3.47.7, on Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS 7.0.0-38-generic, locale en_US.UTF-8) [65ms]
       • Flutter version 3.47.7 on channel stable at /home/.../flutter
       • Upstream repository https://github.com/flutter/flutter.git
       • Framework revision abaf9c5237 (13 days ago), 2026-10-08 09:51:21 -0700
       • Engine revision deb287481e
       • Dart version 3.13.5
       • DevTools version 2.60.0
       • Feature flags: enable-web, enable-linux-desktop, enable-macos-desktop, enable-windows-desktop, enable-android, enable-ios, cli-animations, enable-native-assets, enable-record-use, enable-swift-package-manager, omit-legacy-version-file,
         enable-lldb-debugging, enable-uiscene-migration
   
   [✓] Linux toolchain - develop for Linux desktop [818ms]
       • Ubuntu clang version 21.1.8 (6ubuntu1)
       • cmake version 4.2.3
       • ninja version 1.13.2
       • pkg-config version 2.5.1
       • OpenGL core renderer: SVGA3D; build: RELEASE;  LLVM;
       • OpenGL core version: 4.3 (Core Profile) Mesa 26.0.8-1ubuntu0.3
       • OpenGL core shading language version: 4.30
       • OpenGL ES renderer: SVGA3D; build: RELEASE;  LLVM;
       • OpenGL ES version: OpenGL ES 3.1 Mesa 26.0.8-1ubuntu0.3
       • OpenGL ES shading language version: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.10
       • GL_EXT_framebuffer_blit: yes
       • GL_EXT_texture_format_BGRA8888: yes
   
   [✓] Connected device (2 available) [795ms]
       • Linux (desktop) • linux  • linux-x64      • Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS 7.0.0-38-generic
       • Chrome (web)    • chrome • web-javascript • Google Chrome 156.0.8078.47
   
   
9. robert-ancell commented on Nov 4, 2026

   

   robert-ancell

   on Nov 4, 2026

   Last edited by robert-ancell

   Contributor

   More actions

   This is a bug in the SVGA3D driver, see https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/mesa/mesa/-/work_items/16775. The workaround for Flutter apps is to disable impeller.
10. auto-submit

    closed this as completedin #196022on Nov 11, 2026
11. bkonyi

    added a commit that references this issue on Nov 11, 2026

    [Impeller] Use separate uniform buffers on VMware SVGA3D (flutter#196022

    ...

    9e1d055