TL;DR: Replay uses AI-powered video analysis to reconstruct UIs from screen recordings, enabling faster collaboration and development workflows by understanding user behavior and generating working code.

AI-Powered UI Collaboration: Stop Describing, Start Showing (and Coding)#

Tired of endless design review meetings where you're describing UI behavior instead of demonstrating it? Frustrated with inaccurate screenshots that miss critical interactions? There's a better way. Video, the most natural way to communicate user experience, can now be transformed into working code. This is the power of AI-powered UI collaboration.

Replay leverages advanced video analysis and Gemini's AI capabilities to reconstruct user interfaces from screen recordings. This means you can capture a complex user flow, upload the video, and automatically receive a functional UI prototype. No more misinterpretations, no more wasted time.

The Problem with Traditional UI Collaboration#

Traditional UI collaboration is often a bottleneck. Here's why:

•Static Screenshots: They lack context and don't capture dynamic behavior.
•Verbal Descriptions: Prone to misinterpretation and require significant back-and-forth.
•Hand-Coded Prototypes: Time-consuming to create and maintain, especially for complex interactions.

The result? Slower development cycles, increased costs, and a higher risk of delivering a product that doesn't meet user needs.

Introducing Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay solves these problems with a revolutionary approach: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction. Instead of relying on static images or abstract descriptions, Replay uses video as the source of truth. It analyzes user interactions, button clicks, form submissions, and page transitions to understand the intent behind the user's actions.

This allows Replay to generate not just a visual replica of the UI, but a functional prototype that accurately reflects the intended user experience.

How Replay Works: From Video to Code#

Replay's process is surprisingly simple:

•Record: Capture a video of the desired UI flow using any screen recording tool.
•Upload: Upload the video to Replay.
•Generate: Replay analyzes the video and generates working code.
•Customize: Refine the generated code and integrate it into your project.

Key Features of Replay#

Replay offers a range of features designed to streamline UI collaboration and development:

•Multi-Page Generation: Generate code for complex, multi-page applications.
•Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase for backend functionality.
•Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of the generated UI with CSS.
•Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user journey and identify potential bottlenecks.

Replay vs. Traditional Methods: A Comparison#

Feature	Screenshots & Descriptions	Hand-Coded Prototypes	Replay
Input Source	Screenshots	Manual Code	Video
Behavior Analysis	❌	Partial	✅
Speed of Prototyping	Slow	Very Slow	Fast
Accuracy	Low	High (but time-consuming)	High
Collaboration Efficiency	Low	Medium	High
Code Quality	N/A	Variable	Good
Maintenance	N/A	High	Low

Step-by-Step Guide: Generating UI from Video with Replay#

Here's a practical example of how to use Replay to generate a UI from a screen recording. We'll assume you have a video of a user interacting with a simple e-commerce checkout flow.

Step 1: Record Your UI Flow#

Use any screen recording tool (QuickTime, Loom, OBS Studio) to record a video of the user interacting with the checkout flow. Ensure the video is clear and captures all relevant interactions.

Step 2: Upload the Video to Replay#

Create an account on Replay and upload the recorded video. Replay will automatically begin analyzing the video.

Step 3: Review the Generated Code#

Once the analysis is complete, Replay will present you with the generated code. It will typically consist of HTML, CSS, and potentially JavaScript.

Step 4: Customize and Integrate#

Review the generated code and make any necessary adjustments. Here's an example of generated HTML:

html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Checkout Page</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
</head>
<body>
  <div class="container">
    <h1>Checkout</h1>
    <form id="checkout-form">
      <label for="name">Name:</label>
      <input type="text" id="name" name="name" required>

      <label for="email">Email:</label>
      <input type="email" id="email" name="email" required>

      <button type="submit">Place Order</button>
    </form>
  </div>
  <script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

And here's an example of generated JavaScript that handles form submission:

typescript
// script.js
document.getElementById('checkout-form').addEventListener('submit', async (event) => {
  event.preventDefault();
  const name = document.getElementById('name').value;
  const email = document.getElementById('email').value;

  const response = await fetch('/api/submitOrder', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ name, email }),
  });

  if (response.ok) {
    alert('Order placed successfully!');
  } else {
    alert('Error placing order.');
  }
});

You can then integrate this code into your existing project.

💡 Pro Tip: Use Replay's style injection feature to quickly customize the look and feel of the generated UI. Simply provide a CSS file, and Replay will apply it to the generated code.

Step 5: Iterate and Refine#

Use the generated code as a starting point and iterate based on user feedback and testing. Replay allows you to quickly generate new prototypes based on updated video recordings, making it easy to adapt to changing requirements.

Benefits of AI-Powered UI Collaboration with Replay#

•Faster Prototyping: Generate functional UI prototypes in minutes instead of hours or days.
•Improved Accuracy: Capture the nuances of user behavior and ensure the prototype accurately reflects the intended experience.
•Enhanced Collaboration: Provide a clear and unambiguous representation of the UI to stakeholders.
•Reduced Development Costs: Minimize rework and ensure the final product meets user needs.
•Streamlined Workflow: Integrate Replay into your existing development workflow for a seamless experience.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay significantly accelerates UI development, it's important to review and refine the generated code to ensure it meets your specific requirements and coding standards.

📝 Note: Replay's AI is constantly learning and improving. The more you use it, the better it will become at generating accurate and functional UI code.

Real-World Applications#

Replay can be used in a variety of scenarios, including:

•Rapid Prototyping: Quickly create prototypes for new features or products.
•Usability Testing: Generate prototypes based on user testing videos and iterate quickly based on feedback.
•Design Handoff: Provide developers with a functional prototype that accurately reflects the design intent.
•Legacy System Modernization: Reconstruct UIs from video recordings of legacy systems.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features and usage. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits. Check the Replay pricing page for the most up-to-date information.

How is Replay different from screenshot-to-code tools?#

Screenshot-to-code tools analyze static images, while Replay analyzes video. This allows Replay to understand user behavior and intent, resulting in more accurate and functional UI prototypes. Replay uses Behavior-Driven Reconstruction, making video the source of truth, unlike screenshot tools.

What kind of code does Replay generate?#

Replay typically generates HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code. The specific code generated will depend on the complexity of the UI and the user interactions captured in the video.

Can I integrate Replay with my existing development tools?#

Yes, Replay offers various integration options, including Supabase. More integrations are being added regularly.

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

AI-Powered UI Collaboration: Streamline Workflow with Video Analysis