Convert UI Design Mockups to Interactive Prototypes

TL;DR: Stop building static mockups; Replay transforms video recordings of user flows into interactive, code-complete prototypes, accelerating development and ensuring alignment with user behavior.

The era of static UI design mockups is over. They look pretty, sure, but they're fundamentally disconnected from the reality of user interaction. You spend hours meticulously crafting pixel-perfect screens, only to find that the actual user experience falls flat. Why? Because mockups are just pictures. They don't do anything. They don't capture the nuances of user behavior, the subtle animations, or the flow between pages. It's time to convert UI design mockups into interactive prototypes that actually reflect how users will interact with your application.

The Problem with Static Mockups#

Static mockups lead to significant problems in the development process:

• •Misinterpretation: Developers interpret designs differently than designers intended, leading to inconsistent UI.
• •Lack of User Feedback: Static mockups can't be user-tested effectively, so you're building based on assumptions, not data.
• •Increased Development Time: Translating static designs into code is time-consuming and error-prone, especially when accounting for necessary revisions.
• •Design Drift: The final product often deviates from the initial design, resulting in a disjointed user experience.

We need a better way.

Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: Video as the Source of Truth#

The key to creating truly interactive prototypes is to capture and leverage behavior. Instead of relying on static images, we should be using video recordings of user flows as the source of truth. This is the core principle behind behavior-driven reconstruction, and it's what makes Replay a game-changer.

Replay analyzes video recordings of user interactions and automatically generates working UI code. This isn't just screenshot-to-code; Replay uses Gemini to understand what the user is trying to accomplish, not just what they see on the screen. It reconstructs the UI with working components, event handlers, and data bindings, creating a fully interactive prototype.

Replay: From Video to Interactive Prototype in Seconds#

Replay offers a unique approach to converting UI designs:

• •Video Input: Replay accepts video recordings as input, capturing the dynamic nature of user interactions.
• •Behavior Analysis: Replay analyzes user behavior within the video, understanding the intent behind each action.
• •Code Generation: Replay generates clean, functional code based on the observed behavior.
• •Interactive Prototypes: The resulting code is a fully interactive prototype that can be tested and refined.

This approach addresses the limitations of traditional mockup-to-code tools:

Replay leverages the power of video to capture the nuances of user behavior, resulting in more accurate and interactive prototypes. This leads to faster development cycles, better user feedback, and a more polished final product.

Key Features of Replay#

Replay isn't just about converting video to code; it's about understanding user behavior and building interactive prototypes that reflect that behavior. Here are some of its key features:

• •Multi-Page Generation: Replay can handle complex user flows that span multiple pages, creating a complete interactive experience.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase to manage data and backend functionality.
• •Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of your prototype with style injection.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flow and identify potential bottlenecks.

Building an Interactive Prototype with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through the process of creating an interactive prototype using Replay:

Step 1: Record the User Flow#

Record a video of the desired user flow. This should be a clear and concise demonstration of how the user interacts with the UI. Make sure to capture all relevant actions, such as button clicks, form submissions, and page transitions.

💡 Pro Tip: Use a screen recording tool with good audio quality. Narrating the user flow can help Replay better understand the intent behind each action.

Step 2: Upload the Video to Replay#

Upload the video recording to Replay. Replay will automatically analyze the video and generate the corresponding code.

Step 3: Review and Refine the Code#

Review the generated code and make any necessary refinements. Replay provides a user-friendly interface for editing the code and adjusting the UI.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay generates high-quality code, it's important to review and refine it to ensure it meets your specific requirements. Pay close attention to event handlers and data bindings.

Step 4: Integrate with Supabase (Optional)#

If your prototype requires backend functionality, integrate with Supabase. Replay provides seamless integration with Supabase, allowing you to easily manage data and authentication.

Step 5: Deploy and Test#

Deploy the interactive prototype and test it with real users. Gather feedback and iterate on the design based on user behavior.

Code Example: Handling a Button Click#

Here's an example of the code that Replay might generate for handling a button click:

typescript
// Generated by Replay
const handleClick = async () => {
  try {
    const response = await fetch('/api/submit', {
      method: 'POST',
      body: JSON.stringify({ data: 'user input' }),
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      },
    });

    if (response.ok) {
      const result = await response.json();
      console.log('Success:', result);
      // Update UI based on the result
    } else {
      console.error('Error:', response.status);
      // Handle error scenario
    }
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Fetch error:', error);
    // Handle network error
  }
};

// Attach the event listener to the button
const button = document.getElementById('submitButton');
if (button) {
  button.addEventListener('click', handleClick);
} else {
  console.warn('Button not found');
}

This code snippet demonstrates how Replay captures user interactions (button clicks) and translates them into functional code. The

function sends a POST request to an API endpoint and updates the UI based on the response. This is just one example of the power of Replay to generate interactive prototypes from video recordings.

Style Injection Example#

css
/* Example style injection */
#submitButton {
  background-color: #4CAF50; /* Green */
  border: none;
  color: white;
  padding: 15px 32px;
  text-align: center;
  text-decoration: none;
  display: inline-block;
  font-size: 16px;
  cursor: pointer;
  border-radius: 5px;
}

#submitButton:hover {
  background-color: #3e8e41;
}

This CSS snippet can be injected directly into the prototype generated by Replay to customize the appearance of the submit button. This allows for quick and easy styling without modifying the underlying code.

📝 Note: Replay's style injection feature allows you to apply custom styles to your prototype without modifying the generated code. This makes it easy to experiment with different designs and refine the look and feel of your application.

Benefits of Using Replay#

• •Faster Development: Replay automates the process of converting UI designs into interactive prototypes, saving you time and effort.
• •Improved User Feedback: Interactive prototypes allow you to gather more meaningful user feedback, leading to better design decisions.
• •Reduced Design Drift: Replay ensures that the final product closely matches the initial design, resulting in a more cohesive user experience.
• •Enhanced Collaboration: Replay facilitates collaboration between designers and developers by providing a shared understanding of the user flow.
• •Reduced Costs: By automating the prototyping process, Replay can help you reduce development costs.

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 pricing page for the latest details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both aim to speed up UI development, v0.dev primarily focuses on generating code snippets from text prompts. Replay, on the other hand, leverages video recordings of user flows to reconstruct fully interactive prototypes. Replay understands user behavior from video, leading to more accurate and functional prototypes compared to text-based generation.

What type of video formats does Replay support?#

Replay supports most common video formats, including MP4, MOV, and AVI. For best results, use a high-resolution video with clear audio.

Can Replay handle complex animations and transitions?#

Yes, Replay can analyze and reproduce many common animations and transitions. More complex animations may require manual refinement of the generated code.

Does Replay support custom components?#

Yes, Replay allows you to integrate custom components into your prototypes. You can define your own components and use them in your video recordings.

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