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Omniverse Realtime Viewer

OpenAIOfficialCreated by NVIDIA OmniverseDistributed by OpenAI

  • Skill
  • Meta (authoring, orchestration, planning, memory)
  • Software development
  • Apache-2.0
  • Medium risk

From the author

Use as the top-level router for Omniverse Realtime Viewer USD app requests and focused viewer reference documents.
— the description by NVIDIA Omniverse

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

The Omniverse Realtime Viewer skill acts as a central orchestrator for developing USD-based viewer applications. It provides a structured approach to selecting implementation recipes, enforcing architectural conventions, and managing dependencies. By utilizing a set of focused reference documents, it guides developers through the lifecycle of building, configuring, and validating viewer applications, ensuring consistent behavior across different delivery paths such as local workstations or streaming environments.

What it does

  • Routes development requests to specific implementation recipes based on the target delivery path.
  • Enforces architectural rules for USD rendering, stage management, and UI integration.
  • Provides guidance on camera selection, input handling, and viewport interaction.
  • Standardizes the integration of AOV switching and render product configuration.
  • Facilitates the capture of validation evidence for viewer readiness.
  • Maintains separation between user-provided USD files and application-specific session state.

When to use it

  • When initiating the development of a new USD viewer application within the Omniverse ecosystem.
  • When determining the appropriate delivery path for a viewer, such as local native or streaming.
  • When needing to implement consistent camera, selection, or UI behavior across viewer projects.
  • When integrating advanced rendering features like AOV switching into an existing viewer.

Advantages

  • Ensures architectural consistency across diverse viewer implementations.
  • Provides a clear, modular path for adding specific capabilities like input routing or data display.
  • Promotes clean separation of concerns between stage data and viewer-owned state.
  • Standardizes the validation process for consistent delivery.

Usage examples

“I need to build a browser-based viewer for USD files.”
The agent will route you to the streaming viewer recipe, providing guidance on WebRTC stream setup, UI integration, and viewport interaction.
“How do I implement AOV switching in my local USD viewer?”
The agent will provide the AOV switching reference, detailing how to map render vars and update the display state on the server.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/openai/omniverse-realtime-viewer/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip omniverse-realtime-viewer.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by NVIDIA Omniverse

<!-- SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright (c) 2026 NVIDIA CORPORATION & AFFILIATES. All rights reserved. -->

<!-- SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 -->

Omniverse Realtime Viewer

This is the top-level entry point for the Omniverse Realtime Viewer skill package. It is self-contained: all required routing, conventions, and validation guidance live in the selected references.

Use the focused reference documents as implementation recipes. This file chooses the right recipes and preserves the architectural rules that must hold across all generated viewer apps.

Instructions

Start by classifying the requested viewer, then read only the references needed for that delivery path and feature set. Implement the render path first, layer interaction and UI behavior on top of it, and finish by capturing validation evidence from references/validation.md.

Read Order

  1. Read references/routing.md to choose the delivery path and focused references.

  2. Read references/conventions.md before implementing camera, input, selection, viewport, streaming protocol, scene loading, or environment behavior.

  3. For broad viewer requests, read references/usd-viewer-app/README.md.

  4. If the delivery path is unclear, read references/streaming-vs-local/README.md.

  5. If the prompt includes layout, panels, controls, inspectors, status, or UX, read references/viewer-ux-workflow/README.md and then the focused viewer UI references. This applies to React/WebRTC, Tauri, Electron, ovui, ovwidgets, and Dear ImGui apps; "frontend" means user-facing UI, not only browser UI.

  6. For viewport interaction, read references/viewer-input-routing/README.md before references/camera-controls/README.md, references/native-picking-selection/README.md, or references/object-selection/README.md.

  7. Read only the focused capability references needed for the requested app.

  8. Use references/validation.md to capture review evidence before handoff.

Non-Negotiables

  • Use ovrtx for all USD and 3D rendering.

  • Browser apps display an ovstream WebRTC video stream plus UI. The browser does not render USD geometry.

  • Do not substitute WebGL, Three.js, Babylon.js, PlayCanvas, A-Frame, model-viewer, react-three-fiber, glTF browser viewers, or other client-side 3D renderers.

  • If local validation cannot run because the GPU/runtime environment is absent, scaffold the ovrtx path and document the runtime requirement. Do not add a browser-renderer fallback.

  • Keep user USD files unmodified. Viewer cameras, render products, render vars, settings, selection metadata, and runtime state belong in session/composite layers or app state.

  • Keep one owner for renderer.step(), stage mutation, native picking, selection writes, and live attribute writes.

  • Keep dependency acquisition in references/dependencies/README.md and deployment choices in references/cloud-deployment/README.md; do not duplicate package locations or deployment setup.

Focused Reference Families

  • Entry points and recipes: references/usd-viewer-app/README.md, references/streaming-viewer-recipe/README.md, references/ovui-local-viewer-recipe/README.md, references/streaming-vs-local/README.md, references/electron-shm-viewer/README.md, references/ovwidgets-editor-shell/README.md.

  • Rendering and stage: references/ovrtx-rendering/README.md, references/stage-loading/README.md, references/stage-management/README.md, references/render-settings/README.md, references/aov-switching/README.md, references/stage-hierarchy/README.md, references/stage-queries/README.md, references/stage-attribute-reads/README.md, references/prim-transform-safety/README.md, references/usd-sample-data/README.md.

  • Delivery and runtime: references/streaming-server/README.md, references/streaming-client/README.md, references/streaming-messages/README.md, references/streaming-lifecycle/README.md, references/local-viewer/README.md, references/tauri-local-viewer/README.md, references/cpp-native-viewer/README.md, references/headless-shm-cli/README.md, references/viewer-backend-interface/README.md, references/webgl-shm-transport/README.md.

  • Viewer UI/UX: references/viewer-ux-workflow/README.md, references/viewer-layout-patterns/README.md, references/viewer-control-patterns/README.md, references/viewer-data-view-patterns/README.md, references/viewer-feedback-status/README.md.

  • Interaction: references/viewer-input-routing/README.md, references/camera-controls/README.md, references/object-selection/README.md, references/native-picking-selection/README.md, references/selection-feedback/README.md, references/selection-animation/README.md, references/transform-manipulator/README.md, references/gl-viewport-overlay/README.md, references/ovui-library/README.md, references/prim-pick-effects/README.md, references/prim-info-display/README.md, references/viewport-overlays/README.md.

  • Infrastructure: references/dependencies/README.md, references/windows-native-setup/README.md, references/cloud-assets/README.md, references/cloud-deployment/README.md, references/troubleshooting/README.md.

Build Workflow

  1. Classify the prompt by delivery path, target user, required capabilities, runtime environment, validation needs, and explicit constraints.

  2. Select a small reference set. Start with the recipe or routing reference, then add focused capabilities such as camera, picking, hierarchy, properties, render settings, transform tools, cloud assets, or deployment.

  3. Read selected references before writing app code. Follow their build order, import order, data-channel contracts, and renderer ownership rules.

  4. Implement the core render path first, then input routing and camera, then selection and data panels, then scene/settings features, then packaging or deployment.

  5. Treat the selected references as the behavior contract for API shape, compatibility, and generated project structure.

  6. Capture validation evidence before calling the viewer ready.

Examples

  • For a browser viewer request, use the streaming recipe references plus camera, picking, hierarchy, properties, render settings, and stream-status references.

  • For a local workstation viewer request, use the local or native delivery references plus renderer setup, stage loading, viewport input, and validation.

Completion Checklist

  • Selected references match the user's intent and delivery path.

  • No code path uses a browser-side 3D renderer for USD.

  • The generated app has one clear owner for render stepping and stage mutation.

  • User USD files remain untouched by viewer-owned session data.

  • Camera, input, selection, scene loading, and stream behavior follow references/conventions.md.

  • Setup/build/run results and visual interaction evidence are captured with references/validation.md.

Files

references/troubleshooting/README.md

Troubleshooting

Triggers

Use this skill for troubleshoot, debug Omniverse Realtime Viewer, server won't start, no video, data channel not working, wrong colors, black frame, scene won't load, camera doesn't move, picking broken, or WebRTC internals.

Use this when an Omniverse Realtime Viewer fails during startup, streaming, scene loading, rendering, input, selection, or UI state sync. Start by classifying the first broken boundary instead of chasing downstream symptoms.

Triage Flowchart

Server process does not start
  -> Server startup diagnostics
Server starts but browser cannot connect
  -> WebRTC signaling and port diagnostics
Browser connects but video is blank or frozen
  -> Video streaming and renderer step diagnostics
Electron SHM viewer opens but viewport is black, disconnected, or stutters
  -> Electron SHM Viewer diagnostics
Video streams but colors/materials/frame are wrong
  -> Render var, BGRA conversion, camera, MDL diagnostics
UI connects but buttons/tree/settings do nothing
  -> Data-channel diagnostics
Stage open fails or loads as empty
  -> Scene loading and asset path diagnostics
Scene loads but camera does not move
  -> Input callback and live camera write diagnostics
Camera works but click selection is wrong or empty
  -> Picking, coordinate, and segmentation diagnostics
Selection works but highlight/info/tree is stale
  -> Derived state reset and message routing diagnostics
Scene switch crashes or hangs
  -> Renderer ownership and stage reset diagnostics

Fast Rules

  • Debug one boundary at a time: process startup, WebRTC connection, rendered frame, JSON message, USD query, then feature state.

  • Keep one render thread as the owner of renderer.step(), reset_stage(), open_usd(), open_usd_from_string(), reference mutation, native pick queries, selection outline writes, and live write_attribute() calls.

  • In WebRTC streaming apps, mouse, wheel, keyboard, and touch input arrive through NVST/ovstream InputEvent callbacks; app state commands use the JSON data channel.

  • A frontend "loading forever" state is usually either a missing openStageResult, a missed proactive state push, or a message-name mismatch.

  • A local Omniverse Realtime Viewer skips WebRTC entirely. If the same renderer and scene code works locally but not in a browser, focus on ovstream, frame conversion, and the standalone ovstream Direct AppStreamer config.

Scenario Playbooks

Detailed startup, streaming, scene, input, selection, hierarchy, and recovery playbooks live in scenario-playbooks.md.

Common Error Map

Message or symptomActual causeUsual fix
ModuleNotFoundError: ovstreamPython binding missing or native lib path missingInstall ovstream and set OVSTREAM_LIB_PATH
CRenderApi not foundovrtx plugin tree not resolvedSet OVRTX_BIN_PATH and plugin library path
usd-core detectedovrtx USD check found another USD packageSet OVRTX_SKIP_USD_CHECK=1 before ovrtx work
multiple debug symbol definitions for SDF_ASSETTwo USD registries loadedPut ovrtx bundled libs first or split pxr into worker
_tf import failureUSD DLL/shared library conflictFix import order or use subprocess queries
Default.mdl parse crashRenderer initialized after wrong USD registryFix import/construction order
Magenta materialsMDL resolver path missingSet OVRTX_BIN_PATH and library path
Unable to find RenderProduct primInline/session render path missing or mismatchedCreate the render pipeline and pass the exact path
Black frame, no exceptionCamera, RenderProduct, resolution, or RenderVar invalidValidate stage-loading data and camera relation
USD parse error near RenderVar inline bracesovrtx parser rejected one-line def RenderVar "X" { ... } syntaxUse multi-line RenderVar definitions from stage-loading
RenderProductSetOutputs has no attribute getrenderer.step() output was treated as a dictUse with products as ctx: and index with ctx[render_product_path]
Invalid output handleFrame or render var view outlived its step resultCopy buffers before leaving the RenderProductSetOutputs context
First renderer.step() exceeds normal test timeoutCold RTX shader or pipeline compilationUse a 300s+ first-run timeout and inspect ovrtx logs
Red/blue swappedRGBA submitted as BGRAConvert ovrtx LdrColor before ovstream
Stage load reports success but first frame failsload operation status or RenderProduct path was not checkedwait/check load status, then step the exact RenderProduct
TypeError: a coroutine was expected from ui.runovui run loop received a callback/function instead of an awaitablePass an async render loop coroutine and yield with await asyncio.sleep(0)
VIEWPORT_CAMERA_POSE_SOURCE import failurestale data adapters installed with newer local UI packagesInstall local UI packages from the same package set
ovui-data-adapters is not installableselected package set lacks matching package metadataUse a compatible package set from references/dependencies
Native UI package requires a compiler toolchainpackage/build instructions require local toolsFollow the current ovui dependency guidance
Previous session is already runningOld WebRTC client/session still activeClose old tab, reduce reconnect storm, restart server if stuck
Server sees messageType but no event_typeAppStreamer envelope not unwrappedParse nested data payload before dispatch
POST /sign_in returns HTTP 501Frontend used a Kit/OVC/NVCF/GFN client profile or injected auth/session fields into standalone ovstream Direct configRebuild the frontend from streaming-client using @nvidia/ov-web-rtc Direct mode with only the exposed server and signalingPort
UI waits on getChildrenResponseProtocol name mismatchUse active getChildrenResult route
Picks return old primspending pick/selectable state survived scene reloadclear pick state and refresh native pickability
Highlight visible on loadnative selection outline groups not clearedwrite group 0 for stale selected paths and clear runtime selection
Textures missing only after compositioncache path or sublayer path broke relative referencespreserve cache layout and quote the original asset path correctly

Streaming And Local Omniverse Realtime Viewer Paths

Streaming path:

  • Use streaming-server for ovstream lifecycle, ports, input callbacks, and frame submission.

  • Use streaming-client for standalone ovstream Direct config, video element setup, browser diagnostics, and guarded sends.

  • Use streaming-lifecycle when the connection exists but state, messages, or reconnects are wrong.

  • Use streaming-messages to verify exact JSON event names and payload shapes.

Local Omniverse Realtime Viewer path:

  • Use local-viewer for ovui shell, image display, UI-thread rules, and coordinate mapping.

  • Use ovrtx-rendering for renderer construction, frame extraction, and live attribute writes.

  • Use stage-loading for render prim injection and RenderProduct failures.

  • Use viewer-input-routing, camera-controls, object-selection, stage-hierarchy, and prim-info-display for feature-specific debugging once the frame renders correctly.

Requirements and compatibility

Written for: OpenAI Codex

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

The author says: Orchestrator skill. Downstream focused references may require NVIDIA GPUs, ovrtx, ovstream, ovui, OpenUSD, Python, Node/React, Tauri, Electron, C++, or cloud GPU deployment access depending on the selected viewer path.

Security

What our scanner noticed· Medium risk

  • Large base64-encoded blobs
  • Instructions that use the network

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Attribution and licence

Created by
NVIDIA Omniverse
Publisher
OpenAI (Official)
Distributed by
OpenAI
Source
openai/plugins · plugins/nvidia/skills/omniverse-realtime-viewer · commit d420d13
Licence
Apache License 2.0 (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (written by AutoGineer)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced

AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by NVIDIA Omniverse or OpenAI.

Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download omniverse-realtime-viewer.zip