pixijs-core-concepts
Use this skill when understanding how PixiJS v8 renders frames: the systems-and-pipes renderer, the render loop, and how the library adapts to different environments. Covers WebGLRenderer/WebGPURenderer/CanvasRenderer selection, renderer.render() pipeline, environment detection, rendering into RenderTextures and RenderTargets (flipY, mipLevel, layer, bind/push/pop, copyDepthTexture), WebGL context loss and WebGPU device loss recovery, and pointers to per-topic deep dives. Triggers on: renderer, WebGL, WebGPU, Canvas, render loop, render pipeline, systems, environments, autoDetectRenderer, RenderTexture, RenderTarget, render to texture, flipY, mipLevel, layer, 3D texture, depth slice, renderTarget.bind, copyToTexture, copyDepthTexture, depth-only, WebGLLoader, WebGPULoader, CanvasLoader, RendererLoader, lazy-load renderer systems, code splitting, context lost, webglcontextlost, device lost, GPUDevice.lost.
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- Security
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/pixijs/pixijs-skills --skill pixijs-core-concepts- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads pixijs-core-concepts automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
Security audits
Independent scans of the skill's instructions and bundled files.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Foundational model for how PixiJS v8 gets pixels on the screen: the renderer decides which GPU backend to use, the render loop drives per-frame work, and the environment layer adapts the library to browser, Web Worker, or SSR contexts. For the scene graph itself (Containers, transforms, destroy), see pixijs-scene-core-concepts.
Quick Start
console.log(app.renderer.name); // 'webgl' | 'webgpu' | 'canvas'
app.ticker.add((ticker) => {
sprite.rotation += 0.01 * ticker.deltaTime;
});
const tex = app.renderer.extract.texture({ target: app.stage });
app.renderer.render({ container: app.stage });
app.renderer is the WebGLRenderer, WebGPURenderer, or CanvasRenderer chosen by autoDetectRenderer. The TickerPlugin drives renderer.render() automatically; call it manually only with autoStart: false. Backend selection happens in Application.init({ preference }); see pixijs-application for setup.
Related skills: pixijs-application (Application construction and lifecycle), pixijs-ticker (per-frame logic, priorities, FPS capping), pixijs-environments (Web Worker, SSR, strict CSP), pixijs-custom-rendering (writing a RenderPipe), pixijs-scene-core-concepts (scene graph basics).
Topics
| Topic | Reference | When |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing a backend | references/renderers.md | Preference forms, per-renderer options, systems and pipes |
| Per-frame execution | references/render-loop.md | Priority order, time units, manual rendering |
For deep dives into any single topic, open the corresponding reference file. Non-browser targets (DOMAdapter, WebWorkerAdapter, custom adapters, strict CSP) are covered in the pixijs-environments skill.
Decision guide
- Setting up an Application? Start with
pixijs-application. This skill explains what the renderer does under the hood. - Choosing between WebGL and WebGPU? Use
['webgpu', 'webgl']as your preference array. WebGPU is fastest where available; WebGL is the reliable fallback. Seereferences/renderers.md. - Running in a Web Worker? Set
DOMAdapter.set(WebWorkerAdapter)beforeapp.init. See thepixijs-environmentsskill for complete setup. - Need manual control over when rendering happens? Set
autoStart: falseand callapp.renderer.render(app.stage)from your own loop. Seereferences/render-loop.md. - Integrating with a physics library? Add your update at
UPDATE_PRIORITY.HIGHso physics runs before the render atLOW. Seereferences/render-loop.md. - Writing a custom renderable? Implement a
RenderPipe. Seepixijs-custom-renderingskill. - Rendering into a texture or a custom render target? Pass
targettorenderer.render(), or build aRenderTargetwith explicit color and depth attachments. Seereferences/renderers.md. - Running under strict CSP? Import
'pixi.js/unsafe-eval'. See thepixijs-environmentsskill.
Quick concepts
Renderer = systems + pipes
Each renderer is composed of Systems (lifecycle services: textures, buffers, state, filters, masks) and RenderPipes (per-renderable instruction builders: sprite, graphics, mesh, particle, text, tiling). Writing a custom renderable means implementing a RenderPipe and registering it via extensions. Backend-specific systems and pipes can be dynamic-imported through a renderer loader extension (WebGLLoader, WebGPULoader, CanvasLoader); see references/renderers.md.
The render loop
app.ticker.add(fn) registers a callback that runs every frame. The TickerPlugin registers app.render() at UPDATE_PRIORITY.LOW, so ticker callbacks at NORMAL or HIGH run before the draw. Disable the plugin with autoStart: false for manual control.
Environments
DOMAdapter abstracts every DOM call PixiJS makes (canvas creation, image loading, fetch, XML parsing). Swap with DOMAdapter.set(WebWorkerAdapter) for Workers or implement a custom Adapter for Node/SSR. Must be done before Application.init.
Common Mistakes
[HIGH] Accessing app.renderer before init() resolves
Wrong:
const app = new Application();
app.init({ width: 800, height: 600 });
console.log(app.renderer.name); // undefined — init() is async
Correct:
const app = new Application();
await app.init({ width: 800, height: 600 });
console.log(app.renderer.name); // 'webgl' | 'webgpu' | 'canvas'
Application.init() is async. app.renderer, app.canvas, and app.screen do not exist until after the promise resolves.
[HIGH] Setting DOMAdapter after Application.init
Wrong:
const app = new Application();
await app.init({ width: 800, height: 600 });
DOMAdapter.set(WebWorkerAdapter); // too late — init already allocated resources
Correct:
DOMAdapter.set(WebWorkerAdapter);
const app = new Application();
await app.init({ width: 800, height: 600 });
The adapter abstracts DOM calls the renderer makes during construction (canvas creation, image loading, fetch). Swap it before init() or the wrong adapter is baked into the renderer.
[MEDIUM] Treating preference as a guarantee
Wrong:
await app.init({ preference: "webgpu" });
// assume WebGPU is active
useWebGPUOnlyFeature(app.renderer);
Correct:
await app.init({ preference: "webgpu" });
if (app.renderer.name === "webgpu") {
useWebGPUOnlyFeature(app.renderer);
}
preference is a hint, not a demand. If the browser lacks WebGPU support, PixiJS falls back to WebGL (or Canvas). Always branch on renderer.name for backend-specific code.
API Reference
FAQ
What does the pixijs-core-concepts skill do?
Use this skill when understanding how PixiJS v8 renders frames: the systems-and-pipes renderer, the render loop, and how the library adapts to different environments. Covers WebGLRenderer/WebGPURenderer/CanvasRenderer selection, renderer.render() pipeline, environment detection, rendering into RenderTextures and RenderTargets (flipY, mipLevel, layer, bind/push/pop, copyDepthTexture), WebGL context loss and WebGPU device loss recovery, and pointers to per-topic deep dives. Triggers on: renderer, WebGL, WebGPU, Canvas, render loop, render pipeline, systems, environments, autoDetectRenderer, RenderTexture, RenderTarget, render to texture, flipY, mipLevel, layer, 3D texture, depth slice, renderTarget.bind, copyToTexture, copyDepthTexture, depth-only, WebGLLoader, WebGPULoader, CanvasLoader, RendererLoader, lazy-load renderer systems, code splitting, context lost, webglcontextlost, device lost, GPUDevice.lost.
How do I install pixijs-core-concepts?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/pixijs/pixijs-skills --skill pixijs-core-concepts in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/pixijs-core-concepts/ (personal) or .claude/skills/pixijs-core-concepts/ (project).
Which AI agents can use pixijs-core-concepts?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is pixijs-core-concepts safe to install?
Security partners have reviewed it: Gen Agent Trust Hub passed; Socket passed; Snyk passed; ZeroLeaks passed. As with any skill, read the SKILL.md and bundled scripts before installing.
Who maintains pixijs-core-concepts?
It is published by pixijs in pixijs/pixijs-skills. It has 6,005 recorded installs.
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pixijs/pixijs-skills
Use this skill first for ANY PixiJS v8 task; it routes to the right specialized skill for the job. Covers the full PixiJS surface: Application setup, the scene graph (Container, Sprite, Graphics, Text, Mesh, ParticleContainer, DOMContainer, GifSprite), rendering (WebGL/WebGPU/Canvas, render loop, custom shaders, filters, blend modes), assets, events, color, math, ticker, accessibility, performance, environments, migration from v7, and project scaffolding. Triggers on: pixi, pixi.js, pixijs, PixiJS, v8, Application, app.init, Sprite, Container, Graphics, Text, Mesh, ParticleContainer, DOMContainer, GifSprite, Assets, Ticker, renderer, WebGL, WebGPU, scene graph, filter, shader, blend mode, texture, 3D texture, depth slice, layer, storage texture, BitmapText, create-pixi, how do I draw, how do I render, how do I animate in pixi.
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