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January 5, 20267 min readBest Figma Plugins

Best Figma Plugins Alternatives for complex UI: Building Native Swift Code from Mockup Videos

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay offers a video-to-code solution for generating native Swift UI, surpassing Figma plugins in its ability to understand user behavior and create functional, multi-page applications.

Figma plugins are great for design iteration, but when it comes to translating those designs into functional, native Swift code for complex UIs, they often fall short. The handoff between design and development can be a bottleneck, filled with misinterpretations and rework. What if you could bypass static mockups and go straight from a video demonstration of your desired user flow to working code?

Enter Replay.

Beyond Static Mockups: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Most "design-to-code" tools rely on static screenshots or vector graphics. They lack the context of how a user interacts with the interface. Replay takes a fundamentally different approach: behavior-driven reconstruction. We analyze videos of user interactions to understand the intent behind the actions. This allows Replay to generate more accurate and functional code, especially for complex, multi-page applications.

The Problem with Figma Plugin Alternatives#

While Figma offers a plethora of plugins that claim to generate code, they often struggle with:

  • Complex Interactions: Handling animations, transitions, and state management is difficult from static images.
  • Multi-Page Flows: Stitching together multiple screens into a cohesive application flow is a manual and error-prone process.
  • Native Code Generation: Many plugins generate web-based code that requires significant modification to work natively on iOS.
  • Understanding User Intent: They only see the final state of the UI, not the steps the user took to get there.

Consider a simple example: a user taps a button that triggers a modal sheet to appear. A screenshot-to-code tool sees the modal sheet but doesn't understand the trigger – the button tap. Replay captures this interaction and can generate the corresponding event handler in Swift.

Replay: From Video to Native Swift Code#

Replay uses Gemini to analyze screen recordings and reconstruct working UI code. Here's how it stacks up against typical Figma plugin alternatives:

FeatureScreenshot-to-Code PluginsVector-to-Code PluginsReplay
Video Input
Behavior AnalysisPartial
Multi-Page GenerationLimitedLimited
Native Code SupportOften Web-BasedOften Web-BasedNative Swift
Supabase IntegrationRequires Manual SetupRequires Manual SetupSeamless Integration
Style InjectionLimitedLimitedPowerful, Customizable
Product Flow Maps

Building Native Swift Code with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through a simplified example of how you can use Replay to generate native Swift code from a video.

Step 1: Record Your UI Interaction#

Create a screen recording of your desired user flow using the iOS simulator or a physical device. Make sure the recording clearly shows all interactions, transitions, and animations.

💡 Pro Tip: Speak clearly while recording to explain your actions. This can help Replay better understand your intent.

Step 2: Upload and Analyze#

Upload the video to Replay. Our engine will analyze the video, identifying UI elements, interactions, and the overall application flow. This process leverages the power of Gemini to understand the nuances of user behavior.

Step 3: Review and Customize#

Replay generates a working Swift codebase. Review the generated code and make any necessary adjustments. You can customize the code, inject styles, and integrate with your existing project.

📝 Note: Replay is designed to generate a solid foundation. You'll likely need to refine the code to match your specific project requirements.

Step 4: Integrate into Your Xcode Project#

Copy the generated Swift code into your Xcode project. You can use the code as a starting point for your UI implementation.

Here's an example of the kind of Swift code Replay can generate:

swift
// Example generated Swift code import SwiftUI struct ContentView: View { @State private var showModal = false var body: some View { VStack { Button("Show Modal") { showModal = true } .padding() } .sheet(isPresented: $showModal) { ModalView() } } } struct ModalView: View { var body: some View { Text("This is a modal sheet!") .padding() } }

This code creates a simple view with a button that triggers a modal sheet. Replay can generate more complex code based on the interactions in your video.

Step 5: Leverage Supabase Integration#

If your application uses Supabase, Replay can automatically generate the necessary code to interact with your database. Simply provide your Supabase credentials, and Replay will handle the rest.

For example, Replay can generate code to fetch data from your Supabase database and display it in your UI:

swift
// Example Supabase integration import SwiftUI import Supabase struct DataView: View { @State private var data: [String] = [] var body: some View { List(data, id: \.self) { item in Text(item) } .onAppear { fetchData() } } func fetchData() { Task { let client = SupabaseClient(supabaseURL: "YOUR_SUPABASE_URL", supabaseKey: "YOUR_SUPABASE_KEY") let result = try await client.from("items").select().execute() if let items = result.value as? [[String: Any]] { data = items.compactMap { $0["name"] as? String } } } } }

⚠️ Warning: Remember to replace

text
"YOUR_SUPABASE_URL"
and
text
"YOUR_SUPABASE_KEY"
with your actual Supabase credentials. Store these securely in a real application.

Key Features of Replay#

  • Multi-Page Generation: Replay can generate code for entire application flows, not just individual screens.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with your Supabase database.
  • Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of your UI with powerful style injection capabilities.
  • Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flow of your application.
  • Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: Understand user intent for more accurate code generation.
  • Native Swift Code: Generate code that works natively on iOS.

Why Choose Replay Over Figma Plugins?#

Replay offers several advantages over traditional Figma plugins:

  • Reduced Handoff Friction: Eliminates the need for manual interpretation of designs.
  • Faster Development Cycles: Accelerates the UI development process.
  • Improved Code Quality: Generates more accurate and functional code.
  • Better Understanding of User Behavior: Captures the nuances of user interactions.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for more advanced functionality and higher usage limits. Check out our pricing page for details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both aim to generate code, Replay focuses on behavior-driven reconstruction from video, allowing it to understand user intent and generate more complex, functional UIs. v0.dev primarily uses text prompts and generates code based on those prompts, lacking the understanding of real user interactions.

What types of videos can I use with Replay?#

Replay supports screen recordings in common video formats such as MP4 and MOV. The video should clearly show the UI interactions you want to reconstruct.

Can I use Replay with SwiftUI?#

Yes! Replay is designed to generate native Swift code that is compatible with SwiftUI.

How accurate is the generated code?#

The accuracy of the generated code depends on the quality of the video and the complexity of the UI. Replay is constantly improving its algorithms to generate more accurate and functional code.


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

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