microsoft / microsoft/onnxruntime

[Web] WebGL backend freezes the main thread (`ort.env.webgl.proxy=true` has no effect)

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feature request platform:web
Dominant language
C++
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Description

### Describe the issue

This is a feature request for something like `ort.env.webgl.proxy=true` to prevent the main thread from freezing during inference.

IIUC, using WebGL in Web Workers requires `OffscreenCanvas`, which is available in all browsers except Safari (though it is available in their technical preview, so I'm assuming it'll be in the next major version).

### To reproduce

To reproduce the lag, visit this URL: https://josephrocca.github.io/rwkv-v4-web/demo/ and click "load" on the `rwkv-4-pile-430m-webgl.onnx` row.

### Urgency

Not super urgent, but WebGL is basically unusable for me until this is resolved.

### ONNX Runtime Installation

Released Package

### ONNX Runtime Version or Commit ID

1.14.0

### Execution Provider

WebGL

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing the freeze at the linked RWKV demo using the WebGL model, then investigate the WebGL backend and the `ort.env.webgl.proxy=true` behavior. The issue is complete when WebGL inference can run without freezing the main thread, including in browsers supporting `OffscreenCanvas`, while the Safari limitation is understood.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
javascript
Domain
machine-learning, web-dev
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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