Dynamic Form Generation from Video Demonstrations

TL;DR: Replay allows you to generate fully functional, dynamic forms directly from video demonstrations, saving you countless hours of manual coding.

The Problem with Static Forms: A Developer's Nightmare#

Building forms is a necessary evil in web development. We've all been there: painstakingly defining each field, configuring validation rules, and wiring up event handlers. This process is tedious, repetitive, and prone to errors. What if you could skip the manual coding and generate dynamic forms directly from a video demonstration of the desired user interaction?

Existing solutions often rely on static images or wireframes, capturing only a snapshot of the intended form. They lack the dynamic understanding of user behavior and intent needed for truly automated form generation. This is where Replay comes in.

Introducing Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: Replay's Secret Sauce#

Replay uses a novel approach called "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction." Instead of analyzing static images, Replay analyzes videos of users interacting with a form. This allows Replay to understand:

• •Field Types: Recognizing text inputs, dropdowns, checkboxes, radio buttons, and more.
• •Validation Rules: Inferring validation requirements based on user input and error messages.
• •Event Handling: Detecting events like form submission, field changes, and button clicks.
• •Dynamic Behavior: Understanding how form elements interact and change based on user actions.

This deep understanding of user behavior enables Replay to generate fully functional, dynamic forms with minimal manual intervention.

Replay vs. Traditional Methods: A Clear Comparison#

Let's compare Replay to traditional form building methods and screenshot-to-code tools:

As you can see, Replay offers a significant advantage in terms of automation, dynamic behavior support, and overall efficiency.

Hands-On: Generating a Dynamic Form with Replay#

Let's walk through the process of generating a dynamic form using Replay.

Step 1: Recording the Demonstration#

Record a video of yourself interacting with the desired form. Be sure to demonstrate all the key features and interactions, including:

• •Filling out all fields
• •Triggering validation errors
• •Submitting the form
• •Interacting with dynamic elements (e.g., conditional fields)

The clearer the video, the better the results.

💡 Pro Tip: Speak clearly and explain your actions during the recording. This helps Replay understand your intent.

Step 2: Uploading to Replay#

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

Step 3: Reviewing and Refining#

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

• •Adjust field types and validation rules
• •Fine-tune event handling
• •Modify the styling

Step 4: Integrating the Code#

Copy the generated code and integrate it into your application. Replay supports various frameworks, including React, Vue.js, and Angular.

Here's an example of the generated React code:

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

const DynamicForm = () => {
  const [name, setName] = useState('');
  const [email, setEmail] = useState('');
  const [message, setMessage] = useState('');
  const [errors, setErrors] = useState({});

  const validateEmail = (email: string) => {
    // Basic email validation
    return String(email)
      .toLowerCase()
      .match(
        /^(([^<>()[\]\\.,;:\s@"]+(\.[^<>()[\]\\.,;:\s@"]+)*)|(".+"))@((\[[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\])|(([a-zA-Z\-0-9]+\.)+[a-zA-Z]{2,}))$/
      );
  };

  const handleSubmit = (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    const newErrors: { [key: string]: string } = {};

    if (!name) {
      newErrors.name = 'Name is required';
    }
    if (!email) {
      newErrors.email = 'Email is required';
    } else if (!validateEmail(email)) {
      newErrors.email = 'Invalid email format';
    }
    if (!message) {
      newErrors.message = 'Message is required';
    }

    if (Object.keys(newErrors).length > 0) {
      setErrors(newErrors);
      return;
    }

    // Submit the form data
    console.log({ name, email, message });
    setErrors({}); // Clear errors on successful submission
  };

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

export default DynamicForm;

This code includes state management, input fields, and basic validation. Replay can even infer more complex validation rules and dynamic behaviors based on your video demonstration.

📝 Note: The generated code may require some adjustments to fit your specific application requirements. However, Replay significantly reduces the amount of manual coding required.

Advanced Features: Beyond Basic Form Generation#

Replay offers several advanced features that make it even more powerful:

• •Multi-Page Generation: Reconstruct complex forms that span multiple pages.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase for data storage and authentication.
• •Style Injection: Apply custom styles to the generated form.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flow through the form.

These features allow you to create sophisticated, dynamic forms with ease.

Benefits of Using Replay for Dynamic Form Generation#

• •Reduced Development Time: Generate forms in minutes instead of hours.
• •Improved Accuracy: Minimize errors by automating the form creation process.
• •Enhanced User Experience: Create dynamic forms that adapt to user behavior.
• •Increased Productivity: Focus on higher-level tasks instead of tedious form coding.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay automates a significant portion of the form generation process, it's crucial to review and test the generated code thoroughly to ensure it meets your specific requirements.

Real-World Use Cases#

Replay can be used in a variety of real-world scenarios, including:

• •E-commerce: Generating order forms, checkout forms, and customer registration forms.
• •Healthcare: Creating patient intake forms, medical history forms, and appointment scheduling forms.
• •Education: Building student application forms, course registration forms, and feedback forms.
• •Finance: Developing loan application forms, investment account forms, and tax preparation forms.

Any application that requires dynamic forms can benefit from Replay's behavior-driven reconstruction capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both aim to accelerate UI development, v0.dev primarily relies on text prompts and existing design systems. Replay uniquely uses video as the source of truth, enabling behavior-driven reconstruction and capturing dynamic interactions that text prompts often miss. This results in more accurate and functional code generation, especially for complex forms.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

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

What type of video should I use?#

Use a clear video that demonstrates all the key features and interactions of the form. The better the video quality, the better the results.

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