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January 5, 20267 min readBest Figma Plugins

Best Figma Plugins Alternatives for Better UI: Building Native Swift Code From recorded Videos:2026

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay offers a groundbreaking alternative to Figma plugins by generating native Swift code directly from video recordings, enabling behavior-driven UI reconstruction.

Figma plugins are powerful, but they often fall short when you need truly native code or want to capture complex user interactions. What if you could build UIs directly from watching how users actually use an application? That's the promise of behavior-driven development.

Beyond Figma Plugins: The Rise of Behavior-Driven UI#

Figma plugins are great for design handoff and generating basic code snippets. But the reality is, they often require significant manual tweaking and don't truly capture the nuances of user behavior. They're limited by the static nature of the design file. We need tools that understand intent, not just pixels.

Enter Replay. Replay leverages Gemini to analyze video recordings of user flows and reconstruct working UI code. This "behavior-driven reconstruction" approach offers several advantages over traditional design-to-code workflows.

Replay: Video-to-Code Revolution#

Replay analyzes video (not screenshots) to understand user behavior and intent. It focuses on what users are trying to achieve, not just what they see on the screen.

Here's how Replay stacks up against other UI generation tools:

FeatureScreenshot-to-CodeFigma PluginsReplay
Video Input
Behavior AnalysisPartial
Multi-Page GenerationLimitedLimited
Native Code GenerationLimitedLimited
Supabase IntegrationLimited
Style InjectionLimitedPartial
Product Flow Maps

As you can see, Replay's video-first approach unlocks capabilities that are simply not possible with static design files or screenshot-based tools.

Building Native Swift Code from Video: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through how you can use Replay to generate native Swift code from a screen recording.

Step 1: Record Your User Flow#

The first step is to record a video of the user flow you want to recreate. This could be anything from onboarding a new user to completing a purchase. Make sure the video is clear and shows all the relevant UI elements and interactions.

💡 Pro Tip: Narrate your actions while recording. This helps Replay understand your intent.

Step 2: Upload Your Video to Replay#

Upload your video to the Replay platform. Replay will then analyze the video and start reconstructing the UI.

Step 3: Review and Refine the Generated Code#

Once Replay has finished processing the video, you'll be presented with the generated code. This is where the magic happens. Replay doesn't just generate static UI elements; it understands the flow and generates code that reflects the user's interactions.

swift
// Example of generated Swift code for a button tap import SwiftUI struct ContentView: View { @State private var buttonTapped: Bool = false var body: some View { VStack { Button(action: { buttonTapped = true // Add your button action logic here print("Button Tapped!") }) { Text("Tap Me") .padding() .background(Color.blue) .foregroundColor(.white) .cornerRadius(10) } if buttonTapped { Text("Button was tapped!") .padding() } } } } struct ContentView_Previews: PreviewProvider { static var previews: some View { ContentView() } }

📝 Note: The generated code may require some manual adjustments, especially for complex interactions or custom UI elements. However, Replay significantly reduces the amount of manual coding required.

Step 4: Integrate with Supabase (Optional)#

Replay seamlessly integrates with Supabase, allowing you to quickly connect your UI to a backend database. This is particularly useful for building data-driven applications.

To integrate with Supabase, simply provide your Supabase API URL and API Key in the Replay settings. Replay will then automatically generate code to fetch and update data from your Supabase database.

Step 5: Inject Styles and Customize#

Replay allows you to inject custom styles into the generated code. This ensures that the UI matches your brand and design guidelines. You can define styles in a CSS file or directly in the Replay editor.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay attempts to infer styles from the video, it's important to review and adjust the styles to ensure they are accurate and consistent.

Step 6: Explore Product Flow Maps#

Replay generates product flow maps that visualize the user's journey through the application. This helps you understand how users are interacting with your UI and identify potential areas for improvement.

Key Features of Replay#

  • Multi-Page Generation: Replay can generate code for multi-page applications, capturing complex user flows across different screens.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamlessly connect your UI to a Supabase backend for data-driven applications.
  • Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of your UI with custom styles.
  • Product Flow Maps: Visualize user journeys and identify areas for improvement.
  • Native Swift Code: Generates native Swift code for iOS development.

Benefits of Using Replay#

  • Faster Development: Generate UI code in seconds, significantly reducing development time.
  • Improved Accuracy: Capture user behavior and intent, resulting in more accurate and realistic UI code.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Share product flow maps with your team to improve communication and collaboration.
  • Reduced Manual Coding: Minimize the amount of manual coding required, freeing up developers to focus on more complex tasks.

Why Choose Replay over Figma Plugins?#

Figma plugins are valuable for design collaboration and generating basic code snippets. However, they lack the ability to capture the dynamic nature of user behavior. Replay, on the other hand, uses video as the source of truth, allowing it to understand how users interact with the UI.

Here's a more detailed comparison:

FeatureFigma PluginsReplay
Input SourceStatic design filesVideo recordings of user flows
Behavior AnalysisLimited to design file interactions (e.g., component connections, prototype links)Analyzes user actions, gestures, and timing to understand intent
Code GenerationPrimarily generates UI element code based on design propertiesGenerates UI code that reflects user interactions and flow, including event handling and data binding
Native Code SupportVaries by plugin, often requires significant manual tweaking for native platformsDesigned to generate native code (e.g., Swift for iOS), minimizing the need for manual adjustments
Data IntegrationLimited integration with external data sourcesSeamless integration with Supabase and other backend services, allowing for data-driven UI generation
CollaborationFocuses on design collaboration within FigmaFacilitates collaboration by providing product flow maps and capturing real user behavior, enabling data-driven design decisions
Learning CurveTypically easier to learn for designers familiar with FigmaRequires understanding of video recording best practices and potential manual adjustments to generated code, but offers a more powerful and flexible approach overall

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free trial period. Paid plans are available with increased usage limits and advanced features. Check the pricing page on the Replay website for the most up-to-date information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both Replay and v0.dev aim to automate UI development, they take different approaches. v0.dev relies on AI models trained on code and design patterns. Replay, on the other hand, uses video analysis to understand user behavior and reconstruct the UI based on real-world interactions. Replay’s video-first approach allows for a more accurate and behavior-driven code generation.

What types of applications can I build with Replay?#

Replay is suitable for building a wide range of applications, including mobile apps, web apps, and desktop apps. It is particularly well-suited for building data-driven applications that require complex user interactions.

What if the generated code isn't perfect?#

The generated code is a starting point. It is expected that you will need to make some manual adjustments, especially for complex interactions or custom UI elements. However, Replay significantly reduces the amount of manual coding required.


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

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