AI-Powered UI Code Completion from Video Snippets

TL;DR: Replay leverages AI to reconstruct fully functional UI code directly from video recordings, capturing user behavior and intent for unparalleled code generation accuracy.

The era of static screenshot-to-code is OVER. We've been stuck in a paradigm of visual mimicry, generating code that looks like the design but often fails to behave like the intended user experience. The problem? Screenshots are fundamentally disconnected from the dynamic interactions that define modern UI.

Enter behavior-driven reconstruction: a revolutionary approach to UI code generation powered by AI, specifically designed to bridge the gap between design intent and functional reality.

Why Screenshots Fall Short: The Behavior Gap#

Traditional screenshot-to-code tools are limited by their static nature. They analyze pixels, not user actions. This leads to:

• •Inaccurate Interactions: Buttons might look right, but their click handlers are missing or incorrectly implemented.
• •Broken Flows: Multi-page applications become a nightmare, as the connections between screens are lost in translation.
• •Styling Inconsistencies: Replicating complex CSS styling from a single image is often hit-or-miss, requiring extensive manual tweaking.

The result? A pile of code that looks good in a demo but requires hours of debugging and manual rework to become a usable product. This is where AI, specifically using video as a source of truth, changes everything.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction in Action#

Replay is an AI-powered video-to-code engine that uses Gemini to reconstruct working UI directly from screen recordings. Instead of just seeing what the UI looks like, Replay understands how users interact with it. This "behavior-driven reconstruction" process unlocks a new level of accuracy and efficiency in UI code generation.

Here's how Replay stands apart from the competition:

Replay goes beyond simple visual replication. It leverages AI to:

• •Analyze User Actions: Identify clicks, scrolls, form submissions, and other user interactions.
• •Infer Intent: Understand the purpose behind each action, allowing it to generate code that accurately reflects the desired behavior.
• •Reconstruct Flows: Connect multiple screens and interactions to create complete, functional user flows.

Key Features: Unleashing the Power of Video#

Replay is packed with features designed to streamline UI development:

• •Multi-Page Generation: Generate code for entire applications, not just individual screens. Replay intelligently connects pages based on observed user flows.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with your Supabase backend to create data-driven applications with minimal effort.
• •Style Injection: Automatically inject CSS styles to match the look and feel of the recorded UI, ensuring visual consistency.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize user flows and identify potential bottlenecks in your application's design.

Building a React Component with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through a practical example of using Replay to generate a React component from a video recording of a simple to-do list application.

Step 1: Record Your UI Interaction#

Record a video of yourself interacting with the to-do list application. Make sure to demonstrate key actions like:

• •Adding a new task
• •Marking a task as complete
• •Deleting a task

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to the Replay platform. Replay's AI engine will begin analyzing the video and reconstructing the UI.

Step 3: Review and Customize the Generated Code#

Once the analysis is complete, Replay will present you with the generated code. You can review the code, make any necessary adjustments, and download it in your preferred format (e.g., React, Vue, Angular).

Here's an example of the generated React code (simplified for brevity):

typescript
// Generated by Replay
import React, { useState } from 'react';

interface Todo {
  id: number;
  text: string;
  completed: boolean;
}

const TodoList: React.FC = () => {
  const [todos, setTodos] = useState<Todo[]>([
    { id: 1, text: 'Learn Replay', completed: false },
  ]);

  const handleAddTodo = (text: string) => {
    const newTodo: Todo = {
      id: todos.length + 1,
      text,
      completed: false,
    };
    setTodos([...todos, newTodo]);
  };

  const handleCompleteTodo = (id: number) => {
    setTodos(
      todos.map((todo) =>
        todo.id === id ? { ...todo, completed: !todo.completed } : todo
      )
    );
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>To-Do List</h1>
      {/* Add Todo Input (omitted for brevity) */}
      <ul>
        {todos.map((todo) => (
          <li key={todo.id}>
            <input
              type="checkbox"
              checked={todo.completed}
              onChange={() => handleCompleteTodo(todo.id)}
            />
            <span>{todo.text}</span>
          </li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
};

export default TodoList;

💡 Pro Tip: Replay intelligently generates event handlers and state management logic based on your interactions in the video. The more comprehensive your recording, the more complete and accurate the generated code will be.

Step 4: Integrate with Supabase (Optional)#

If you want to persist your to-do list data, you can easily integrate Replay with your Supabase backend. Replay can automatically generate the necessary API calls and data models to synchronize your UI with your database.

typescript
// Example Supabase integration (requires Supabase client setup)
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

const supabaseUrl = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_URL';
const supabaseKey = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY';
const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey);

const fetchTodos = async () => {
  const { data, error } = await supabase.from('todos').select('*');
  if (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching todos:', error);
    return [];
  }
  return data;
};

📝 Note: This code snippet assumes you have already set up a Supabase project and created a "todos" table with appropriate columns (id, text, completed).

The Future of UI Development is Behavior-Driven#

Replay represents a paradigm shift in UI development. By focusing on user behavior rather than just visual appearance, we can unlock a new level of efficiency and accuracy in code generation. This means:

• •Faster Development Cycles: Generate working UI code in minutes, not hours.
• •Reduced Debugging Time: Minimize errors and inconsistencies by capturing the intended behavior upfront.
• •Improved User Experience: Create applications that are more intuitive and responsive to user needs.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay significantly reduces development time, it's important to remember that AI-generated code is not a replacement for human expertise. Always review and test the generated code to ensure it meets your specific requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans are available for increased usage and access to advanced features. Check the Replay pricing page for the latest details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools leverage AI for code generation, Replay distinguishes itself by using video as the primary input. This allows Replay to understand user behavior and intent, resulting in more accurate and functional code compared to screenshot-based or text-prompted approaches like v0.dev. Replay focuses on reconstructing existing UI based on real interactions, whereas v0.dev generates new UI from prompts.

What types of applications can I build with Replay?#

Replay can be used to build a wide range of UI applications, from simple to-do lists to complex dashboards and e-commerce platforms. The key is to provide clear and comprehensive video recordings that demonstrate the desired user interactions.

What frameworks are supported?#

Replay currently supports React, Vue, and Angular, with plans to add support for more frameworks in the future.

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Ready to try behavior-driven code generation? Get started with Replay - transform any video into working code in seconds.