TL;DR: In 2026, forget static Figma plugins – behavior-driven code generation from video, like Replay, will be the gold standard for converting UI designs into clean, functional Swift code.
The UI development landscape is rapidly evolving. While Figma plugins have traditionally been the go-to for converting designs to code, their limitations are becoming increasingly apparent, especially when targeting complex, interactive Swift applications. In 2026, developers need more than just static design conversions; they need tools that understand user behavior and translate it into functional code. Let's explore why current Figma plugins are falling short and how video-to-code engines like Replay are poised to revolutionize Swift UI development.
The Problem with Traditional Figma Plugins#
Figma plugins offer a convenient way to export design elements into code. However, they typically generate code based on static representations of the design. This approach has several drawbacks:
- •Lack of Interactivity: Plugins often fail to capture the dynamic aspects of UI designs, such as animations, transitions, and complex user interactions.
- •Manual Adjustments: The generated code usually requires significant manual adjustments and refactoring to integrate seamlessly into a Swift project.
- •Limited Understanding of User Intent: Figma plugins treat designs as visual artifacts, without understanding the underlying user workflows or desired application behavior.
- •Maintenance Overhead: When designs change, developers need to regenerate code and manually merge the updates, leading to increased maintenance overhead.
The Rise of Behavior-Driven Code Generation#
In 2026, the limitations of static design-to-code tools are driving the adoption of behavior-driven code generation. This approach uses video recordings of user interactions to reconstruct working UI code. By analyzing user behavior, these engines can generate code that accurately reflects the intended functionality and user experience.
Replay is at the forefront of this revolution. It analyzes video of UI interactions to understand what users are trying to do, not just what they see. This allows Replay to generate more accurate, functional, and maintainable Swift code.
Replay: The Future of Swift UI Development#
Replay offers a fundamentally different approach to UI development. Instead of relying on static design files, it uses video as the source of truth. Here's how it works:
- •Record User Interactions: Capture a video recording of a user interacting with a UI design prototype or a live application.
- •Analyze User Behavior: Replay's AI engine analyzes the video to understand user actions, gestures, and interactions.
- •Generate Functional Code: Replay reconstructs the UI as working Swift code, including animations, transitions, and data bindings.
Key Features of Replay#
- •Multi-Page Generation: Replay can generate code for multi-page applications, preserving navigation and data flow.
- •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase for backend data management and authentication.
- •Style Injection: Apply custom styles and themes to the generated code.
- •Product Flow Maps: Visualize user flows and interactions to better understand application behavior.
Comparison: Figma Plugins vs. Replay#
Let's compare Replay with traditional Figma plugins and other code generation tools:
| Feature | TeleportHQ | Anima | Replay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video Input | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Behavior Analysis | ❌ | Partial | ✅ |
| Multi-Page Generation | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Supabase Integration | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Style Injection | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Product Flow Maps | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Target Code | HTML/CSS/JS | React | Swift |
This table highlights Replay's unique ability to analyze video input and generate Swift code with a deep understanding of user behavior.
Implementing Replay in Your Swift Workflow#
Here's a step-by-step guide to integrating Replay into your Swift development workflow:
Step 1: Record UI Interactions#
Record a video of a user interacting with your UI design. This video should capture all the relevant interactions, animations, and transitions.
💡 Pro Tip: Ensure the video is clear and well-lit for optimal analysis.
Step 2: Upload to Replay#
Upload the video to the Replay platform. Replay will automatically analyze the video and reconstruct the UI as Swift code.
Step 3: Review and Customize#
Review the generated code and make any necessary customizations. Replay provides a visual editor that allows you to fine-tune the UI and add custom logic.
Step 4: Integrate into Your Swift Project#
Copy the generated Swift code into your Xcode project and integrate it with your existing codebase.
Example Code Generation#
Here's an example of Swift code generated by Replay:
swift// Generated by Replay - Behavior-Driven Reconstruction import SwiftUI struct ContentView: View { @State private var counter: Int = 0 var body: some View { VStack { Text("Counter: \(counter)") .padding() Button("Increment") { counter += 1 } .padding() } } }
This code snippet demonstrates how Replay can generate functional Swift code based on user interactions in the recorded video.
📝 Note: The generated code may require further customization to fit your specific project requirements.
Integrating with Supabase#
Replay's Supabase integration simplifies backend data management. Here's how to fetch data from Supabase and display it in your UI:
swift// Example of fetching data from Supabase 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 } } } } }
This code demonstrates how to fetch data from a Supabase table and display it in a SwiftUI list. Replay can automatically generate similar code based on user interactions with data-driven UI elements.
⚠️ Warning: Remember to replace
andtext"YOUR_SUPABASE_URL"with your actual Supabase credentials.text"YOUR_SUPABASE_KEY"
Benefits of Using Replay#
- •Faster Development: Accelerate UI development by automating code generation.
- •Improved Accuracy: Generate code that accurately reflects user behavior and intent.
- •Reduced Maintenance: Minimize manual adjustments and refactoring.
- •Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitate collaboration between designers and developers.
- •Future-Proofing: Embrace the future of UI development with behavior-driven code generation.
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 the Replay pricing page for the latest details.
How is Replay different from v0.dev?#
While both Replay and v0.dev aim to generate code, they operate on fundamentally different principles. v0.dev relies on text prompts and pre-trained models, while Replay analyzes video recordings of user interactions. Replay's behavior-driven approach allows it to generate more accurate and functional code, especially for complex UI designs.
What type of video input does Replay support?#
Replay supports a variety of video formats, including MP4, MOV, and AVI. The video should be clear and well-lit for optimal analysis.
Can Replay generate code for native iOS apps?#
Yes, Replay generates Swift code compatible with native iOS app development using SwiftUI.
Does Replay support animations and transitions?#
Yes, Replay can analyze animations and transitions in the video and generate corresponding Swift code.
Ready to try behavior-driven code generation? Get started with Replay - transform any video into working code in seconds.