Convert a recorded prototype to a ready to use web application.

TL;DR: Replay uses video analysis and behavior-driven reconstruction to convert screen recordings of prototypes into fully functional web applications, saving developers significant time and effort.

From Video to Verified Code: Reconstructing UIs with Replay#

Creating a functional web application often starts with a prototype. You record your screen, demonstrating the intended user flow and interface. But then comes the tedious part: manually translating that visual representation into actual code. Screenshot-to-code tools offer a partial solution, but they often miss the critical element: user intent and dynamic behavior. This is where Replay changes the game.

Replay leverages video analysis powered by Gemini to understand the behavior within your prototype recording, not just the static visuals. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" approach allows Replay to generate code that accurately reflects the intended functionality, including multi-page flows, state management, and dynamic updates.

The Problem with Traditional Approaches#

The conventional route of building a web app from a recorded prototype is fraught with challenges:

• •Time-Consuming Manual Coding: Translating visual designs and user interactions into code is a slow, error-prone process.
• •Misinterpretation of Intent: Static prototypes often lack the nuance of actual user behavior, leading to incorrect implementations.
• •Lack of Dynamic Functionality: Screenshot-to-code tools can't capture dynamic elements like animations, form submissions, or API calls.
• •Maintenance Overhead: Manually coded UIs are harder to maintain and update, especially as the application evolves.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction in Action#

Replay offers a revolutionary approach by treating the video as the source of truth. It analyzes the video to understand:

• •User interactions (clicks, scrolls, form inputs)
• •Page transitions and navigation
• •Dynamic content updates
• •Overall product flow

This allows Replay to generate code that is not just visually similar to the prototype but also functionally equivalent.

Key Features that Set Replay Apart#

• •Multi-Page Generation: Replay intelligently identifies page transitions in the video and generates code for each page, creating a complete multi-page application.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase for backend functionality, including authentication, data storage, and real-time updates.
• •Style Injection: Replay automatically infers styling from the video and applies it to the generated code, ensuring visual consistency.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flow captured in the video, providing a clear understanding of the application's structure.

Converting Your Recorded Prototype: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through the process of converting a recorded prototype into a functional web application using Replay.

Step 1: Recording Your Prototype

Create a clear and concise screen recording of your prototype. Make sure to:

• •Demonstrate all key user flows.
• •Clearly show interactions with UI elements.
• •Include any dynamic content updates.
• •Speak clearly, explaining your actions (optional, but helpful for Replay).

💡 Pro Tip: The clearer and more detailed your recording, the better Replay will be able to understand and reconstruct your application.

Step 2: Uploading to Replay

Upload your video file to the Replay platform. Replay supports various video formats, including MP4, MOV, and WebM.

Step 3: Analyzing and Reconstructing

Replay will analyze your video and begin the reconstruction process. This may take a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of the video. During this time, Replay is:

• •Identifying UI elements.
• •Recognizing user interactions.
• •Inferring application logic.
• •Generating code for each page.

Step 4: Reviewing and Customizing the Generated Code

Once the reconstruction is complete, you can review the generated code. Replay provides a visual editor that allows you to:

• •Inspect the code for each component.
• •Make minor adjustments to the styling.
• •Add custom functionality.
• •Connect to your Supabase backend.

📝 Note: While Replay strives for complete accuracy, you may need to make some minor adjustments to the generated code to perfectly match your intended functionality.

Step 5: Deploying Your Application

Once you are satisfied with the generated code, you can deploy your application to your preferred hosting platform. Replay supports various deployment options, including Netlify, Vercel, and AWS.

Real-World Example: Building a Simple To-Do App#

Let's say you have a recorded prototype of a simple to-do app. The video shows the user:

1. •Entering a new to-do item in an input field.
2. •Clicking an "Add" button.
3. •Seeing the new to-do item appear in a list.
4. •Clicking a checkbox to mark an item as complete.

Replay can analyze this video and generate the following code (simplified example):

typescript
// React component for a to-do item
import { useState } from 'react';

const TodoItem = ({ text, completed, onToggle }) => {
  const [isChecked, setIsChecked] = useState(completed);

  const handleToggle = () => {
    setIsChecked(!isChecked);
    onToggle(); // Callback to update the parent component
  };

  return (
    <li>
      <input
        type="checkbox"
        checked={isChecked}
        onChange={handleToggle}
      />
      <span style={{ textDecoration: isChecked ? 'line-through' : 'none' }}>
        {text}
      </span>
    </li>
  );
};

export default TodoItem;

This is just a small snippet, but Replay would generate the entire component structure, including the input field, "Add" button, and list rendering logic. Furthermore, if the video showed the app persisting data to a Supabase database, Replay could generate the necessary API calls and database interactions.

Integrating with Supabase#

Replay excels at integrating with Supabase, allowing you to quickly build full-stack applications. Here's how you can leverage Supabase with Replay:

1. •Connect to Your Supabase Project: Provide your Supabase URL and API key to Replay.
2. •Define Database Schemas: Replay can infer database schemas from your prototype, or you can define them manually.
3. •Generate API Calls: Replay automatically generates API calls to interact with your Supabase database, including queries, mutations, and real-time subscriptions.

For example, if your prototype shows users creating new accounts, Replay can generate the following Supabase code:

typescript
// Example of Supabase signup
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

const supabaseUrl = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_URL';
const supabaseKey = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY';
const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey);

const signUpUser = async (email, password) => {
  const { data, error } = await supabase.auth.signUp({
    email: email,
    password: password,
  });

  if (error) {
    console.error('Signup error:', error);
  } else {
    console.log('Signup successful:', data);
  }
};

⚠️ Warning: Always store your Supabase API keys securely and avoid exposing them in client-side code.

Benefits of Using Replay#

• •Accelerated Development: Dramatically reduce the time it takes to convert prototypes into working applications.
• •Improved Accuracy: Capture user intent and dynamic behavior, resulting in more accurate and functional code.
• •Reduced Errors: Minimize manual coding errors and ensure consistency across your application.
• •Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitate communication between designers and developers by providing a shared understanding of the application's functionality.
• •Lower Maintenance Costs: Generate clean, well-structured code that is easier to maintain and update.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features and usage. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits. Check the Replay website for the latest pricing information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both Replay and v0.dev aim to accelerate UI development, they differ significantly in their approach. v0.dev primarily uses AI to generate UI components based on text prompts. Replay, on the other hand, analyzes video recordings of prototypes to understand user behavior and generate complete applications. Replay focuses on reconstructing existing prototypes, while v0.dev focuses on generating new UIs from scratch.

What types of applications can Replay handle?#

Replay can handle a wide range of web applications, including e-commerce sites, dashboards, social media apps, and more. The key requirement is a clear and concise screen recording of the prototype.

What if Replay makes a mistake?#

Replay provides a visual editor that allows you to review and customize the generated code. You can easily correct any errors or make adjustments to the styling or functionality.

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