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January 5, 20266 min readBest UI Bakery

Best UI Bakery alternatives for building low-code React applications from UI video

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay offers a superior alternative to UI Bakery for generating React applications from UI video, leveraging behavior-driven reconstruction for more accurate and functional code.

UI Bakery is a popular low-code platform that enables developers to build internal tools and web applications rapidly. However, its reliance on traditional methods can be limiting, especially when trying to translate complex user workflows into functional code. What if you could simply record a video of your desired UI behavior and have it automatically translated into a working React application? That's where Replay comes in.

The Problem with Traditional Low-Code Platforms#

Traditional low-code platforms often rely on drag-and-drop interfaces and predefined components. While this approach can speed up development, it often struggles to capture the nuances of user interaction and complex application logic. This can lead to:

  • Inaccurate representations of the intended UI
  • Difficulties in handling dynamic data and user behavior
  • Limited customization options

Screenshot-to-code solutions offer a slight improvement, but they only address the visual aspect of the UI. They fail to understand the underlying user intent and the flow of interactions.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction from Video#

Replay takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of relying on static screenshots or predefined components, Replay analyzes VIDEO of user interactions to reconstruct working UI. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" allows Replay to understand what users are trying to do, not just what they see. This leads to more accurate, functional, and maintainable code.

Key Features of Replay#

  • Multi-page Generation: Replay can generate entire multi-page applications from a single video recording.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate your generated code with Supabase for backend functionality.
  • Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of your application with style injection.
  • Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flow and application logic.

Replay vs. UI Bakery: A Detailed Comparison#

FeatureUI BakeryReplay
Input MethodDrag-and-drop, Predefined ComponentsVideo Analysis
Behavior AnalysisLimited✅ Full Behavior-Driven Reconstruction
Code GenerationLimited CustomizationHighly Customizable React Code
Multi-Page SupportLimited✅ Full Multi-Page Application Generation
Supabase IntegrationLimited✅ Seamless Integration
Style CustomizationLimited✅ Style Injection
Understanding User Intent
Learning CurveLowerSlightly Higher (React knowledge helpful)
ScalabilityCan become complex with larger projectsScales well due to code-based approach

How Replay Works: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Here's a simplified example of how you can use Replay to generate a React application from a video:

Step 1: Record Your UI Interaction#

Record a video of yourself interacting with the UI you want to recreate. This could be a prototype, a competitor's website, or even a sketch on paper. The clearer the video, the better the results.

💡 Pro Tip: Speak clearly while interacting with the UI. Verbal cues can help Replay understand your intent.

Step 2: Upload and Process the Video#

Upload the video to Replay. Replay will then analyze the video, identify UI elements, and understand the user flow.

Step 3: Review and Customize the Generated Code#

Replay generates clean, well-structured React code. You can review the code, make adjustments, and customize the styling to match your desired look and feel.

typescript
// Example of a generated React component import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react'; const MyComponent = () => { const [data, setData] = useState([]); useEffect(() => { const fetchData = async () => { const response = await fetch('/api/data'); const jsonData = await response.json(); setData(jsonData); }; fetchData(); }, []); return ( <div> <h1>My Component</h1> <ul> {data.map((item) => ( <li key={item.id}>{item.name}</li> ))} </ul> </div> ); }; export default MyComponent;

Step 4: Integrate with Supabase (Optional)#

If you need backend functionality, you can easily integrate the generated code with Supabase. Replay can automatically generate the necessary API calls and data models.

javascript
// Example of a Supabase API call import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'; const supabaseUrl = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_URL'; const supabaseKey = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY'; const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey); const fetchDataFromSupabase = async () => { const { data, error } = await supabase .from('my_table') .select('*'); if (error) { console.error('Error fetching data:', error); return []; } return data; };

Addressing Common Concerns#

"Is Replay just another screenshot-to-code tool?"

No. Replay analyzes video, not screenshots. This allows it to understand user behavior and intent, leading to more accurate and functional code. Screenshot-to-code tools only capture the visual appearance of the UI, while Replay captures the interaction with the UI.

"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. However, Replay's behavior-driven reconstruction approach significantly improves accuracy compared to traditional methods.

"Do I need to be a React expert to use Replay?"

While a basic understanding of React is helpful, Replay is designed to be accessible to developers of all skill levels. The generated code is clean and well-structured, making it easy to understand and modify.

⚠️ Warning: Replay requires clear video input for optimal results. Blurry or poorly lit videos may result in inaccurate code generation.

Beyond UI Bakery: The Power of Video-to-Code#

Replay represents a significant leap forward in low-code development. By leveraging video analysis and behavior-driven reconstruction, Replay offers a more intuitive and powerful way to generate React applications. This opens up new possibilities for rapid prototyping, UI design, and application development.

Benefits of Using Replay#

  • Faster Development: Generate working code in seconds from a video recording.
  • Improved Accuracy: Behavior-driven reconstruction ensures more accurate code generation.
  • Enhanced Customization: Customize the generated code to match your specific needs.
  • Seamless Integration: Integrate with Supabase for backend functionality.
  • Better Understanding of User Intent: Replay understands what users are trying to do, not just what they see.

📝 Note: Replay is continuously being improved with new features and enhancements. Stay tuned for future updates and integrations.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

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

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to accelerate UI development, they operate on different principles. v0.dev uses AI to generate UI components based on text prompts. Replay, on the other hand, analyzes video of existing UIs to reconstruct working code, capturing the nuances of user behavior. Replay excels at replicating existing UIs and understanding complex workflows, while v0.dev is better suited for generating new UIs from scratch.

Can I use Replay to generate code for other frameworks besides React?#

Currently, Replay primarily supports React code generation. However, support for other frameworks is planned for future releases.


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

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