Troubleshooting & FAQ

Solutions to common issues and frequently asked questions

Common Issues

Quick solutions to frequently encountered problems

Connection & Streaming Issues

Streaming won't start / Black screen

Symptoms: Application loads but shows black screen or connection fails

Solutions:

  1. Check browser compatibility

    • WebGPU streaming requires modern browsers (Chrome 113+, Edge 113+, Firefox 115+)
    • Safari support is limited - use Chrome/Edge for best results
    • Check caniuse.com/webgpu for browser support

  2. Verify network connectivity

    • Disable VPN temporarily to test
    • Check firewall settings allow WebRTC connections
    • Test on a different network (mobile hotspot) to isolate network issues

  3. Clear browser cache and cookies

    # Chrome/Edge: Ctrl+Shift+Delete
# Select "Cached images and files" and "Cookies"
# Time range: "All time"

  4. Check server status

    • Verify your deployment is running in the dashboard
    • Check the Analytics page for server health metrics
    • Review deployment logs for errors

Poor video quality / Low FPS

Symptoms: Video is blurry, laggy, or choppy

Solutions:

  1. Check your internet speed

    • Minimum: 10 Mbps download for 1080p
    • Recommended: 25+ Mbps for 4K
    • Test at fast.com

  2. Adjust streaming settings

    • Lower resolution (try 1080p instead of 4K)
    • Reduce frame rate (60fps instead of 120fps)
    • Enable adaptive bitrate in project settings

  3. Optimize server configuration

    • Upgrade server type if CPU/GPU usage is high
    • Check server metrics in Analytics dashboard
    • Consider enabling auto-scaling

  4. Client-side optimizations

    • Close background applications
    • Use hardware acceleration in browser settings
    • Update GPU drivers

High latency / Input lag

Symptoms: Noticeable delay between input and response

Solutions:

  1. Geographic optimization

    • Deploy servers closer to your users
    • Check server region in project settings
    • Consider multi-region deployment

  2. Network optimization

    • Use wired connection instead of WiFi
    • Reduce network congestion (pause downloads/uploads)
    • Check ping to server: acceptable <50ms, good <20ms

  3. Use WebGPU streaming mode

    • Lowest latency option (runs in browser)
    • No server-side rendering overhead
    • Best for interactive applications

Deployment Issues

Build upload fails

Symptoms: Upload times out or fails partway through

Solutions:

  1. Check file size

    • Maximum: 10GB per build
    • Compress assets if needed
    • Remove unnecessary files (debug symbols, source)

  2. Verify file format

    • Supported: ZIP, EXE, directory uploads
    • Ensure proper file permissions
    • Check for corrupted archives

  3. Network stability

    • Use wired connection for large uploads
    • Resume upload if interrupted (automatic in dashboard)
    • Try uploading during off-peak hours

Deployment stuck or fails

Symptoms: Deployment hangs at "Provisioning" or shows error

Solutions:

  1. Check credit balance

    • View balance in Billing section
    • Add credits or upgrade plan if needed

  2. Review build configuration

    • Ensure entry point is correctly specified
    • Check dependencies are included
    • Verify executable has proper permissions

  3. Check deployment logs

    • View detailed logs in project dashboard
    • Look for missing dependencies or errors
    • Contact support with log details if unclear

Custom domain not working

Symptoms: Domain shows error or doesn't connect

Solutions:

  1. Verify DNS records

    # Required records:
TXT: _simplystream.yourdomain.com → verification-code
CNAME: app.yourdomain.com → routing.simplystream.com

  2. Wait for DNS propagation

  3. SSL certificate issues

    • Automatic issuance takes ~5 minutes
    • Ensure DNS is correct before requesting cert
    • Check certificate status in dashboard

Performance Issues

High costs / Unexpected billing

Symptoms: Credits depleting faster than expected

Solutions:

  1. Review analytics

    • Check concurrent users vs. expected
    • Look for unusual traffic patterns
    • Monitor cost per session

  2. Optimize resource usage

    • Right-size server type (don't over-provision)
    • Enable auto-scaling to reduce idle costs
    • Set session timeouts to prevent abandoned sessions

  3. Implement session limits

    • Set maximum concurrent sessions
    • Add authentication to prevent abuse
    • Monitor for unusual traffic patterns

Memory leaks / Server crashes

Symptoms: Server performance degrades over time or crashes

Solutions:

  1. Application-level fixes

    • Profile memory usage in your application
    • Fix resource leaks (textures, objects, handles)
    • Implement proper cleanup on session end

  2. Server configuration

    • Upgrade server type for more memory
    • Enable automatic restarts on crash
    • Set memory limits to prevent runaway processes

  3. Monitor and alert

    • Set up alerts for high memory usage
    • Review crash logs regularly
    • Use application performance monitoring tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about SimplyStream

General Questions

What streaming modes are available?

SimplyStream offers three streaming modes:

  1. Client/Wasm WebGPU - Runs in user's browser

    • ✅ Lowest latency (~1-5ms)
    • ✅ No server GPU needed
    • ✅ Works offline after initial load
    • ❌ Limited by client device capabilities

  2. Hybrid Streaming - Smart combination

    • ✅ Automatic fallback between WebGPU and pixel streaming
    • ✅ Best compatibility across devices
    • ✅ Optimizes cost vs. quality automatically

  3. Server Pixel Streaming - Server-rendered

    • ✅ Highest visual quality
    • ✅ Works on any device (even old browsers)
    • ✅ Can utilize powerful server GPUs
    • ❌ Higher latency (20-100ms)
    • ❌ Higher bandwidth usage

How is pricing calculated?

Pricing is based on usage:

  • Compute: Per minute of server runtime
  • Bandwidth: Data transfer for streaming
  • Storage: Build file storage

Free Tier includes:

  • $10 trial credits (no credit card required)
  • All streaming modes
  • Up to 1080p resolution
  • Pay only for what you use
  • Community support

Studio Plan ($800/month):

  • $100 in prepaid credits monthly
  • Everything in Free, plus up to 8K streaming
  • 10% discount on usage
  • Custom branding
  • Priority email support

See Pricing for full details.

Is there a free tier?

Yes! All new users get $10 in trial credits (no credit card required). This includes:

  • All streaming modes (WebGPU, Hybrid, Pixel Streaming)
  • Up to 1080p resolution
  • Pay-as-you-go usage
  • Community support

Can I use my own domain?

Yes! Custom domains are supported on all plans:

  1. Add domain in the Domains section
  2. Configure DNS records as provided
  3. Wait for verification (5-60 minutes)
  4. SSL certificates are automatically provisioned

See the Getting Started guide for details.

Can I completely whitelabel the streaming?

Yes! For enterprise and whitelabel deployments, you can configure custom nameservers to handle DNS routing:

  1. Create a nameserver on the Domains page with your custom route (e.g., streaming.yourcompany.com)
  2. Set it on your project to apply to all endpoints
  3. Override per endpoint if needed for different brands

This gives you complete control over the DNS routes your users see during streaming sessions. When no custom nameserver is set, the system uses ps.simplystream.dev as the default.

See Nameservers documentation for details.

What browsers are supported?

WebGPU Streaming:

  • Chrome 113+ (recommended)
  • Edge 113+
  • Firefox 115+ (limited)
  • Safari 17+ (experimental)

Pixel Streaming:

  • All modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
  • Mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Chrome Mobile)

Best experience: Latest Chrome or Edge

Technical Questions

What resolution and FPS are supported?

All streaming modes support:

  • Resolutions: 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 4K (3840×2160), 8K (7680×4320)
  • Frame rates: 30, 60, 120, 240 FPS
  • Codecs: AV1 (recommended), H.265/HEVC, H.264/AVC

Available on all plans including Free tier.

Can I deploy multiple versions of my application?

Yes! You can:

  • Create multiple revisions per project
  • Deploy different revisions to different domains
  • A/B test different builds
  • Roll back to previous revisions instantly

How do I implement multiplayer?

SimplyStream includes built-in multiplayer support:

  1. Enable multiplayer in project settings
  2. Configure session management
  3. Use our WebRTC signaling infrastructure
  4. Implement game-specific logic

Documentation coming soon. Contact support for early access.

Can I use SimplyStream with Unity/Unreal?

Unreal Engine: Full support

  • Pixel Streaming plugin built-in
  • WebGPU builds via HTML5 platform
  • Detailed guides available

Unity: Supported

  • WebGL builds for WebGPU mode
  • Windows builds for pixel streaming
  • Documentation in progress

How do I secure my application?

Security options:

  1. Authentication

    • Integrate your own auth system
    • Use JWT tokens for validation
    • Implement session tokens

  2. Domain restrictions

    • Limit access to specific domains
    • IP whitelisting available (Enterprise)

  3. Session management

    • Set maximum session duration
    • Require re-authentication
    • Monitor for unusual access patterns

Can I integrate analytics?

Yes! You can:

  • Use built-in Analytics dashboard
  • Export data via API
  • Integrate Google Analytics, Mixpanel, etc.
  • Custom event tracking in your application

See API Documentation for integration details.

Billing Questions

When will I be charged?

  • Free tier: Only when credits run out
  • Studio plan: Monthly billing
  • Credits are consumed based on actual usage
  • You'll be notified before credits are depleted

Can I set spending limits?

Yes! Configure:

  • Maximum monthly spend
  • Alerts at thresholds (50%, 75%, 90%)
  • Auto-pause on limit reached
  • Per-project budgets

What payment methods are accepted?

  • Credit/debit cards via Stripe (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
  • Enterprise plans: contact us for custom billing arrangements

How do credits work?

Credits are prepaid funds:

  • Never expire
  • Used across all projects
  • Deducted based on usage
  • Can be purchased in increments
  • Referral rewards add credits

Credits are denominated in USD. $10 in credits = $10 of compute/bandwidth usage. Actual streaming hours depend on your server configuration and streaming mode.

Still Need Help?

How do I contact support?

  • Free tier: Community support via Discord
  • Studio/Enterprise: Priority email support
  • Critical issues: 24/7 support (Enterprise only)

Response times:

  • Community: Best effort (usually <24 hours)
  • Studio: <12 hours
  • Enterprise: <4 hours, <1 hour for critical

Where can I find more documentation?

Can I request new features?

Yes! We love feedback:

  • Submit via GitHub Issues
  • Discuss in Discord community
  • Contact support with requests
  • Vote on roadmap items (Enterprise customers)