Convert UI Mockups to Code Using AI Video Interpretation

TL;DR: Replay uses AI video interpretation to convert UI mockups from screen recordings into fully functional code, understanding user behavior beyond static visuals.

The leap from static UI mockups to interactive, functional code has always been a bottleneck in web development. Traditional screenshot-to-code tools offer a starting point, but often miss crucial nuances of user interaction and intended behavior. What if you could simply record a video of your desired UI flow and have AI reconstruct it into working code? That's the promise of behavior-driven reconstruction, and it's now a reality with Replay.

The Problem with Static Mockups#

Static mockups, whether created in Figma, Sketch, or even hand-drawn, represent a single state of a UI. They lack the dynamic element of user interaction – the clicks, hovers, form submissions, and page transitions that define a real user experience. Converting these static representations into code often involves a significant amount of manual interpretation and implementation, leading to:

• •Increased Development Time: Manually coding interactions is time-consuming.
• •Misinterpretation of Intent: Developers might misinterpret the intended behavior from static designs.
• •Lack of Fidelity: The final implementation might not accurately reflect the designer's vision for user flow.
• •Maintenance Overhead: Changes to the UI require manual updates to both the design and the code.

Introducing Behavior-Driven Reconstruction with Replay#

Replay tackles these challenges by analyzing video of UI mockups, not just static images. This allows the AI engine to understand the intended user behavior and reconstruct the UI accordingly. Instead of relying on a single snapshot, Replay treats the entire user flow as the source of truth.

This approach, powered by Gemini, unlocks a new level of efficiency and accuracy in UI development. Let's look at how Replay stacks up against traditional methods.

Replay vs. Screenshot-to-Code#

Key Features of Replay#

Replay offers a suite of features designed to streamline the UI-to-code conversion process:

• •Multi-Page Generation: Reconstruct entire multi-page applications from a single video recording.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate your UI with Supabase for backend functionality.
• •Style Injection: Maintain consistent styling by injecting CSS or Tailwind classes directly into the generated code.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize and understand the reconstructed user flow through automatically generated flow diagrams.

How to Convert UI Mockups to Code with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through the process of converting a UI mockup video into working code using Replay.

Step 1: Capture Your UI Mockup Video#

Record a video of yourself interacting with your UI mockup. This video should clearly demonstrate the intended user flow, including clicks, hovers, form submissions, and page transitions. The clearer the video, the more accurate the reconstruction.

💡 Pro Tip: Narrate your actions while recording. This provides additional context for Replay's AI engine and improves accuracy.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

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

Step 3: Review and Refine#

Replay will analyze your video and generate the corresponding code. Review the generated code and make any necessary refinements. You can adjust styling, add functionality, and optimize the code to meet your specific requirements.

📝 Note: Replay provides a visual editor that allows you to easily modify the generated code and see the changes in real-time.

Step 4: Integrate with Your Project#

Download the generated code and integrate it into your existing project. Replay supports various frameworks, including React, Vue, and Angular.

Example: Reconstructing a Simple Form#

Let's say you have a video of a user filling out a simple form. The video shows the user typing their name, email, and submitting the form. Replay can reconstruct this into the following React component:

typescript
// Example React Component Generated by Replay
import React, { useState } from 'react';

const ContactForm = () => {
  const [name, setName] = useState('');
  const [email, setEmail] = useState('');

  const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    // Simulate form submission
    console.log('Submitting form:', { name, email });
    alert(`Form submitted with name: ${name} and email: ${email}`);

    // In a real application, you would send the data to a backend server
    // using fetch or a similar library.
    // Example:
    // const response = await fetch('/api/submit', {
    //   method: 'POST',
    //   body: JSON.stringify({ name, email }),
    //   headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    // });
    // const data = await response.json();
    // console.log(data);
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="name">Name:</label>
        <input
          type="text"
          id="name"
          value={name}
          onChange={(e) => setName(e.target.value)}
        />
      </div>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="email">Email:</label>
        <input
          type="email"
          id="email"
          value={email}
          onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)}
        />
      </div>
      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    </form>
  );
};

export default ContactForm;

This code captures the user's input and simulates form submission. Replay intelligently infers the data types and event handlers based on the video analysis.

Leveraging Style Injection#

Replay’s style injection feature allows you to maintain a consistent look and feel across your application. You can provide CSS or Tailwind classes that Replay will automatically apply to the generated code.

For example, if you have a CSS class called

that defines the styling for input fields, you can instruct Replay to apply this class to all input elements in the generated form. This ensures that the generated code adheres to your existing design system.

Replay and Supabase: A Powerful Combination#

Replay's Supabase integration allows you to quickly connect your UI to a backend database. Replay can automatically generate the necessary API calls and data models to interact with your Supabase database.

Imagine recording a video of a user creating a new account. Replay can not only generate the UI for the account creation form but also the code to store the user's information in your Supabase database. This dramatically accelerates the development process.

Understanding Product Flow Maps#

Replay automatically generates product flow maps based on the video analysis. These maps visualize the user's journey through your application, making it easier to understand and optimize the user experience.

The flow maps show the different screens the user interacts with, the actions they take on each screen, and the transitions between screens. This provides valuable insights into user behavior and helps you identify potential areas for improvement.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay is powerful, it's not a magic bullet. The quality of the generated code depends on the clarity and completeness of the input video. Ensure that your videos clearly demonstrate the intended user flow and interactions.

Real-World Use Cases#

Replay can be used in a variety of scenarios:

• •Rapid Prototyping: Quickly create working prototypes from UI mockups.
• •UI Modernization: Convert legacy UIs into modern codebases.
• •Design-to-Code Automation: Streamline the handoff between designers and developers.
• •User Testing Analysis: Reconstruct user interfaces from user testing videos.

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.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While v0.dev uses text prompts to generate UI components, Replay analyzes video recordings of UI interactions. This allows Replay to understand user behavior and generate more accurate and functional code, especially for complex multi-page flows. Replay focuses on behavior-driven reconstruction, making it a more accurate reflection of the intended user experience.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

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

What types of videos can I upload to Replay?#

Replay supports various video formats, including MP4, MOV, and WebM. The video should clearly demonstrate the intended user flow and interactions.

How accurate is Replay?#

Replay's accuracy depends on the quality of the input video. Clear and well-defined videos will result in more accurate code generation.

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