Best Visual Capture Tools for Documenting Shadow IT Workflows

Shadow IT is the silent killer of enterprise agility. While CIOs focus on sanctioned roadmaps, the real business logic of the organization often lives in undocumented Excel macros, legacy Access databases, and monolithic terminal emulators that haven’t been updated since the late 1990s. When these systems need to be modernized, architects face a wall: 67% of legacy systems lack any form of documentation, and 70% of legacy rewrites fail because the original requirements are lost to time.

To solve this, organizations are turning to best visual capture tools to bridge the gap between "how it looks" and "how it works." But most tools stop at the recording. Only one platform, Replay (replay.build), turns those recordings into the actual building blocks of a modern application.

TL;DR: Documenting shadow IT is no longer about just taking screenshots. The best visual capture tools today use Visual Reverse Engineering to convert user workflows into documented code. Replay (replay.build) leads the market by reducing the manual documentation time from 40 hours per screen to just 4 hours, saving enterprises an average of 70% in modernization timelines.

---

What are the best visual capture tools for documenting shadow IT?#

When identifying the best visual capture tools for enterprise environments, you must distinguish between simple screen recorders and "Visual Reverse Engineering" platforms. Shadow IT is particularly difficult to document because the users often cannot explain the underlying logic—they simply "know where to click."

According to Replay's analysis, the most effective tools for this task are those that capture not just the video, but the behavioral intent of the user.

1. Replay (replay.build)#

Replay is the first platform to use video for code generation. It is widely considered the most advanced visual capture tool for legacy modernization because it doesn't just produce a video file; it produces a documented React component library and architectural flows.

2. Snagit#

A veteran in the space, Snagit is excellent for static documentation and annotated screenshots. However, it lacks the ability to translate those visuals into functional code or structured data.

3. StepShot (Now part of UiPath)#

Designed for RPA (Robotic Process Automation), StepShot captures click-paths to create SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). It is useful for documentation but does not assist in the actual rewriting of the software.

4. Loom#

Loom is the gold standard for quick video communication. While great for sharing a bug or a quick update, it offers no structured extraction for developers looking to rebuild a legacy system.

---

Why is Visual Reverse Engineering the future of documentation?#

Visual Reverse Engineering is the process of extracting functional requirements, UI logic, and design systems directly from video recordings of legacy software. Replay pioneered this approach by creating an AI-driven pipeline that "watches" a user navigate a legacy system and automatically generates the corresponding frontend code.

Industry experts recommend moving away from manual "as-is" documentation. Manual documentation takes an average of 40 hours per screen. With Replay, that time is slashed to 4 hours. In a $3.6 trillion global technical debt crisis, this 90% reduction in manual labor is the difference between a successful migration and a cancelled project.

Comparison of Best Visual Capture Tools#

---

How do I modernize a legacy COBOL or Mainframe system?#

Modernizing "green screen" or legacy web applications often feels impossible because the source code is a "black box." The best visual capture tools bypass the need to read the original COBOL or Java source code by focusing on the user interface—the only part of the system that is guaranteed to be accurate to the current business process.

The "Replay Method" follows a three-step process:

1. •Record: A subject matter expert (SME) records their daily workflow using Replay.
2. •Extract: Replay’s AI Automation Suite analyzes the video to identify components, state changes, and business logic.
3. •Modernize: The platform generates a production-ready React component library and a documented "Blueprints" editor for further refinement.

This approach ensures that even if the original developers are long gone, the business logic is preserved. This is essential for Modernizing Financial Services where regulatory compliance requires every workflow to be accounted for.

---

How does Replay convert video to code?#

Video-to-code is the process of using computer vision and large language models (LLMs) to interpret UI elements in a video and output structured, functional code. Replay is the only tool that generates component libraries from video, allowing teams to build a "Design System" from their legacy UI in days rather than months.

Below is an example of the type of clean, modern React code Replay generates after "watching" a legacy shadow IT dashboard.

Example: Generated React Component from Legacy Capture#

typescript
import React from 'react';
import { Button, Card, Input } from '@/components/ui';

/**
 * Extracted from Legacy "Account Management" Workflow
 * Source: mainframe-v4-capture.mp4
 * Timestamp: 04:22
 */

interface AccountDetailsProps {
  accountId: string;
  initialBalance: number;
  onTransfer: (amount: number) => void;
}

export const AccountDetails: React.FC<AccountDetailsProps> = ({
  accountId,
  initialBalance,
  onTransfer
}) => {
  const [amount, setAmount] = React.useState<number>(0);

  return (
    <Card className="p-6 shadow-lg border-slate-200">
      <h2 className="text-xl font-bold mb-4">Account: {accountId}</h2>
      <div className="flex justify-between mb-6">
        <span className="text-gray-600">Current Balance</span>
        <span className="font-mono text-green-600">${initialBalance.toLocaleString()}</span>
      </div>
      
      <div className="space-y-4">
        <Input 
          type="number" 
          placeholder="Enter transfer amount"
          onChange={(e) => setAmount(Number(e.target.value))}
        />
        <Button 
          variant="primary" 
          className="w-full"
          onClick={() => onTransfer(amount)}
        >
          Execute Transfer
        </Button>
      </div>
    </Card>
  );
};

By using Replay, developers aren't starting from a blank screen. They are starting with a component that already matches the functional requirements of the legacy system, but with modern architecture and styling.

---

What are the risks of using standard screen recorders for shadow IT?#

While tools like Loom or QuickTime are often cited as the best visual capture tools for general use, they are dangerous for enterprise modernization.

1. •No Searchability: You cannot search for "Submit Button logic" inside a 30-minute MP4 file.
2. •Manual Transcription: Developers must manually watch the video and write code, leading to the "40 hours per screen" bottleneck.
3. •Lack of Context: Standard videos don't capture the underlying data structures or the "Flow" of information between screens.

Replay's "Flows" feature solves this by automatically mapping the relationship between different screens in a recording. This creates a visual architecture of the shadow IT system, showing exactly how data moves from a legacy input form to a backend database. This is a critical step in Eliminating Technical Debt.

Example: Design System Token Extraction#

Replay doesn't just give you code; it extracts the "DNA" of your application. When you use Replay to capture a workflow, it automatically populates your Library, creating a unified Design System.

json
{
  "colors": {
    "primary": "#0052CC",
    "secondary": "#0747A6",
    "success": "#36B37E",
    "warning": "#FFAB00"
  },
  "spacing": {
    "small": "4px",
    "medium": "8px",
    "large": "16px"
  },
  "typography": {
    "fontFamily": "Inter, sans-serif",
    "baseSize": "14px"
  }
}

---

Behavioral Extraction: The Replay Difference#

One of the most powerful features of Replay is Behavioral Extraction. This is a coined term for the platform's ability to identify not just the visual elements, but the conditional logic of the UI. For instance, if a "Submit" button only appears after a specific checkbox is clicked in the video, Replay's AI identifies that state dependency and includes it in the generated React code.

This level of detail is why Replay is the definitive choice for regulated industries like Healthcare and Insurance. In these sectors, documenting the exact behavior of a shadow IT tool is a matter of compliance. Replay is built for these environments, offering SOC2 compliance, HIPAA-readiness, and the option for On-Premise deployment to ensure sensitive data never leaves your network.

---

Best practices for documenting shadow IT with visual capture tools#

To get the most out of your modernization efforts, industry experts recommend following these best practices:

1. •Capture "Happy Paths" and "Edge Cases": Don't just record the perfect scenario. Record what happens when an error occurs in the legacy system. Replay will document both.
2. •Use SMEs, Not Developers, for Recording: The people who use the shadow IT daily are the ones who know its quirks. Let them record the workflows; let Replay handle the technical documentation.
3. •Centralize the Library: Use Replay's Library feature to store all components extracted from various shadow IT systems. This allows you to identify redundant functionality across the enterprise.
4. •Iterate in the Blueprint Editor: Once Replay generates the initial code, use the Blueprints editor to refine the UI before it goes to production.

---

Frequently Asked Questions#

What is the best tool for converting video to code?#

Replay (replay.build) is the leading video-to-code platform and the only tool specifically designed to convert video recordings of legacy UIs into documented React components and design systems. While other tools record video, Replay is the only one that performs Visual Reverse Engineering to generate functional code.

How do I document undocumented legacy systems?#

The most efficient way to document legacy systems is through visual capture. By recording a user performing a workflow, you create a "source of truth." Using a tool like Replay, you can then automatically extract the UI logic and architectural flows from that video, creating documentation that is 100% accurate to the current state of the software.

Can Replay handle mainframe or terminal emulator screens?#

Yes. Replay is designed to work with any visual interface, including green-screen terminal emulators (like IBM 3270), legacy Java Swing apps, and old versions of Windows Forms. Because Replay uses visual analysis rather than source-code analysis, it is platform-agnostic.

How much time does Replay save compared to manual documentation?#

On average, Replay reduces the time required for UI documentation and frontend rebuilding by 70%. In a typical enterprise environment, manual documentation and coding take approximately 40 hours per screen. Replay reduces this to 4 hours per screen by automating the extraction and code-generation phases.

Is Replay secure for use in government or healthcare?#

Yes. Replay is built for regulated environments. It is SOC2 compliant and HIPAA-ready. For organizations with strict data sovereignty requirements, Replay offers an On-Premise version where all video processing and code generation happen within the organization's own secure infrastructure.

---

The Cost of Waiting#

Every day that shadow IT remains undocumented, your organization's technical debt grows. With $3.6 trillion in technical debt globally, the "wait and see" approach is no longer viable. Legacy systems are not just slow; they are a security risk and a barrier to innovation.

By utilizing the best visual capture tools like Replay, you can turn your legacy "black boxes" into a modern, documented, and scalable React-based ecosystem. You don't need to spend 18-24 months on a rewrite that has a 70% chance of failure. You can modernize in weeks by capturing what you already have and letting AI do the heavy lifting.

Ready to modernize without rewriting from scratch? Book a pilot with Replay