Cannot create hello-world window.

I'm trying to run the example hello-world and don't get the window to pop up. with standard display on my linux laptop:

*Main> :main
*** Exception: user error (Failed to create a window)

same with tightvncserver:

with Xvfb:

*Main> :main
libGL error: No matching fbConfigs or visuals found
libGL error: failed to load driver: swrast
*** Exception: user error (Failed to create a window)

... where Xvfb says:

$ Xvfb :2
The XKEYBOARD keymap compiler (xkbcomp) reports:
> Warning:          Compat map for group 2 redefined
>                   Using new definition
> Warning:          Compat map for group 3 redefined
>                   Using new definition
> Warning:          Compat map for group 4 redefined
>                   Using new definition
Errors from xkbcomp are not fatal to the X server

more details: debian, xmonad.

$ glxinfo  | grep -i opengl
OpenGL vendor string: Intel Open Source Technology Center
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) Sandybridge Mobile
OpenGL core profile version string: 3.1 (Core Profile) Mesa 10.3.2
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 1.40
OpenGL core profile context flags: (none)
OpenGL core profile extensions:
OpenGL version string: 3.0 Mesa 10.3.2
OpenGL shading language version string: 1.30
OpenGL context flags: (none)
OpenGL extensions:
OpenGL ES profile version string: OpenGL ES 3.0 Mesa 10.3.2
OpenGL ES profile shading language version string: OpenGL ES GLSL ES 3.0
OpenGL ES profile extensions:

fumieval / jugendstil

Cannot create hello-world window. #1