Convert UI Component Documentation to Code Examples

TL;DR: Stop manually creating code examples from UI component documentation; Replay automatically generates working, interactive examples directly from screen recordings of your components in action.

Stop wasting time manually translating UI component documentation into working code examples. You know the drill: meticulously copy-pasting snippets, tweaking parameters, and debugging inconsistencies until you finally have a demo that reflects the documentation. It's tedious, error-prone, and frankly, a soul-crushing waste of developer time. The real problem? Static documentation fails to capture the dynamic nature of UI components in action. It's not enough to see the code; you need to experience it.

The Problem with Static Documentation#

Static documentation, while necessary, is inherently limited. It presents a snapshot of a component's functionality, but it can't easily convey the nuances of user interaction, state changes, or complex data flows. This leads to:

• •Misinterpretations: Developers may misunderstand how a component behaves in real-world scenarios.
• •Integration Headaches: Integrating components into existing projects becomes a trial-and-error process.
• •Time Sink: Manually creating and maintaining code examples consumes valuable developer time.

💡 Pro Tip: Prioritize interactive examples in your component library. It significantly reduces the learning curve for new developers and accelerates adoption.

Consider a complex component like a date range picker. Documentation might describe the available props and methods, but it can't fully illustrate how the component responds to different user inputs, handles edge cases, or integrates with various date formatting libraries. Developers are left to reverse-engineer the component's behavior, which is inefficient and frustrating.

Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: A New Paradigm#

The solution lies in capturing the behavior of UI components directly. Instead of relying solely on static code snippets, we need to leverage video recordings of components in action. This approach, which we call "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction," treats video as the source of truth, capturing the dynamic interactions and state changes that static documentation misses.

This is where Replay comes in. Replay analyzes video recordings of UI components to automatically generate working, interactive code examples. It's not just about extracting code snippets; it's about understanding the intent behind the user's actions and reconstructing the underlying UI logic.

Replay: From Video to Working Code#

Replay uses Gemini, Google's cutting-edge AI model, to analyze video recordings of UI component interactions. It then reconstructs the UI, generating clean, functional code that accurately reflects the component's behavior. This process involves:

1. •Behavior Analysis: Identifying user actions, state changes, and data flows within the video.
2. •UI Reconstruction: Rebuilding the UI using a combination of code generation and component recognition.
3. •Code Optimization: Cleaning and optimizing the generated code for readability and performance.

📝 Note: Replay goes beyond simple screenshot-to-code conversion. It understands the underlying logic and intent, resulting in more accurate and maintainable code.

Key Features#

• •Multi-Page Generation: Replay can handle complex, multi-page flows, generating code for entire user journeys.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase for data persistence and authentication.
• •Style Injection: Inject custom styles to match your project's design system.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flow and component interactions within the generated code.

Comparing Approaches: Replay vs. Traditional Methods#

As you can see, Replay offers a significant advantage in terms of accuracy, time investment, and the ability to capture dynamic interactions. Screenshot-to-code tools often struggle with complex UI elements and dynamic behavior, while manual code examples are time-consuming to create and maintain.

Tutorial: Converting a React Component Documentation to a Code Example with Replay#

Let's walk through a simple example of how to use Replay to convert React component documentation into a working code example. We'll use a basic button component as an illustration.

Step 1: Record the Component in Action#

First, record a video of yourself interacting with the button component. Show all the different states of the button (e.g., default, hover, active, disabled) and demonstrate how it responds to different user inputs. Make sure the video is clear and well-lit.

Step 2: Upload the Video to Replay#

Upload the video to Replay. Replay will automatically analyze the video and begin reconstructing the UI.

Step 3: Review and Refine the Generated Code#

Once the reconstruction is complete, review the generated code. Replay provides a visual editor that allows you to make adjustments and refinements. You can modify the code, adjust the styling, and add additional functionality.

Step 4: Integrate the Code Example into Your Documentation#

Finally, integrate the generated code example into your component documentation. You can embed the code directly into your documentation or create a separate demo page.

typescript
// Example of a generated React button component
import React, { useState } from 'react';

interface ButtonProps {
  label: string;
  onClick?: () => void;
  disabled?: boolean;
}

const Button: React.FC<ButtonProps> = ({ label, onClick, disabled }) => {
  const [isHovered, setIsHovered] = useState(false);

  return (
    <button
      onClick={onClick}
      disabled={disabled}
      onMouseEnter={() => setIsHovered(true)}
      onMouseLeave={() => setIsHovered(false)}
      style={{
        backgroundColor: disabled ? '#ccc' : isHovered ? '#333' : '#000',
        color: '#fff',
        padding: '10px 20px',
        border: 'none',
        cursor: disabled ? 'not-allowed' : 'pointer',
      }}
    >
      {label}
    </button>
  );
};

export default Button;

⚠️ Warning: The accuracy of the generated code depends on the quality of the video recording. Ensure the video is clear, well-lit, and captures all relevant interactions.

Benefits of Using Replay#

• •Increased Efficiency: Automate the creation of code examples, freeing up developer time.
• •Improved Accuracy: Generate code that accurately reflects the component's behavior.
• •Enhanced Documentation: Create interactive and engaging documentation that improves developer understanding.
• •Faster Onboarding: Accelerate the onboarding process for new developers by providing clear and concise code examples.
• •Reduced Maintenance: Minimize the effort required to maintain code examples, as Replay can automatically update them based on new video recordings.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited functionality. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits. Check out the Replay pricing page for more 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 primarily relies on text prompts and existing code libraries, whereas Replay uses video analysis to understand user behavior and reconstruct the UI. Replay is particularly well-suited for generating code examples that accurately capture dynamic interactions and complex state changes, something that prompt-based tools often struggle with.

What types of UI components can Replay handle?#

Replay can handle a wide range of UI components, from simple buttons and input fields to complex data grids and charts. The key is to provide clear and comprehensive video recordings of the components in action.

What frameworks and libraries does Replay support?#

Replay currently supports React, Vue, and Angular. Support for other frameworks and libraries is planned for future releases.

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