Generating UI Component Documentation from Video Demos

TL;DR: Stop manually writing UI component documentation - automatically generate working code and flow maps from video demos using Replay's behavior-driven reconstruction.

Stop wasting time writing UI component documentation. The industry is stuck in a screenshot-and-markdown rut, but that's not good enough. Static images don't capture the behavior of your components. They don't show how users actually interact with them. You end up with documentation that's incomplete, outdated, and ultimately, useless.

We need a better way. We need documentation that's dynamic, interactive, and reflects the real-world usage of our components. That's where video comes in, and that's where Replay shines.

The Problem with Traditional UI Component Documentation#

Traditional methods rely heavily on static assets and manual updates. This leads to several key issues:

• •Outdated Information: Component behavior changes, but documentation often lags behind.
• •Incomplete Representation: Screenshots can't capture dynamic states, animations, or user interactions.
• •Maintenance Overhead: Manually updating documentation is time-consuming and error-prone.
• •Lack of Interactivity: Users can't experiment with the component directly from the documentation.

This is especially problematic for complex components with multiple states and interactions. Developers spend hours crafting detailed descriptions, only to have them become obsolete within weeks.

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

The solution? Treat video demos as the source of truth for your UI component documentation. By analyzing video recordings of component usage, we can automatically generate working code, interactive examples, and flow maps that accurately reflect the component's behavior.

This is the core principle behind Replay. Unlike screenshot-to-code tools that simply transcribe visual elements, Replay leverages Gemini to understand what users are trying to achieve and reconstruct the underlying code accordingly. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" approach unlocks a new level of accuracy and dynamism in UI component documentation.

Generating UI Component Documentation with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Here's how you can use Replay to generate comprehensive UI component documentation from video demos:

Step 1: Record a Video Demo#

Record a clear and concise video demo showcasing the component's features, states, and interactions. Make sure to capture all relevant user flows and edge cases. The better the video, the better the reconstruction.

💡 Pro Tip: Narrate your actions while recording. This provides valuable context for Replay's analysis engine.

Step 2: Upload the Video to Replay#

Upload the video to Replay's platform. Replay will automatically analyze the video and reconstruct the UI component.

Step 3: Review and Refine the Generated Code#

Replay generates clean, functional code based on your video demo. Review the generated code and make any necessary refinements. You can easily edit the code directly within Replay's interface.

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

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

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

  return (
    <button
      onClick={onClick}
      onMouseEnter={() => setIsHovered(true)}
      onMouseLeave={() => setIsHovered(false)}
      style={{
        backgroundColor: isHovered ? '#3498db' : '#2980b9',
        color: 'white',
        padding: '10px 20px',
        border: 'none',
        borderRadius: '5px',
        cursor: 'pointer',
        transition: 'background-color 0.3s ease',
      }}
    >
      {label}
    </button>
  );
};

export default Button;

Step 4: Generate Interactive Examples#

Replay automatically generates interactive examples of the component based on the reconstructed code. These examples allow users to experiment with the component directly from the documentation.

Step 5: Create Product Flow Maps#

Visualize user flows through your component with automatically generated product flow maps. These maps provide a clear overview of the component's different states and transitions.

📝 Note: Replay supports multi-page generation, allowing you to document entire user flows across multiple screens.

Benefits of Using Replay for UI Component Documentation#

• •Reduced Documentation Time: Automate the documentation process and free up valuable developer time.
• •Improved Accuracy: Ensure that your documentation accurately reflects the component's behavior.
• •Enhanced Interactivity: Provide users with interactive examples that allow them to experiment with the component.
• •Streamlined Maintenance: Easily update documentation whenever the component's behavior changes.
• •Better Collaboration: Share clear and concise documentation with your team.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with your Supabase backend for data-driven components.
• •Style Injection: Easily apply custom styles to your generated components.

Challenging the Status Quo#

The current approach to UI component documentation is fundamentally flawed. Static screenshots and manual descriptions are simply not sufficient to capture the complexity of modern UI components. Replay offers a revolutionary solution that leverages the power of video and AI to generate dynamic, interactive, and accurate documentation.

⚠️ Warning: Don't rely solely on screenshot-to-code tools for documentation. They miss critical behavioral information.

Advanced Features#

Replay isn't just about basic code generation. It offers advanced features to supercharge your documentation process:

• •Multi-Page Generation: Reconstruct entire multi-page flows, not just single components.
• •Supabase Integration: Connect to your Supabase backend to automatically generate code for data-driven components. Imagine instantly documenting components that fetch and display real data!
• •Style Injection: Apply custom styles to your generated components, ensuring consistency with your design system.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize user flows and component interactions with automatically generated flow maps. This helps developers understand the component's role within the larger application.

javascript
// Example of fetching data from Supabase
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

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

const fetchData = async () => {
  const { data, error } = await supabase
    .from('your_table')
    .select('*');

  if (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
    return [];
  }

  return data;
};

export default fetchData;

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 [Replay pricing page](https://replay.build/pricing - placeholder) for the most up-to-date information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While v0.dev focuses on AI-powered component generation from text prompts, Replay reconstructs components from video demos, capturing actual user behavior. Replay understands the intent behind the UI interactions, leading to more accurate and functional code. Replay excels at documenting existing components based on their real-world usage, while v0.dev is better suited for creating new components from scratch.

What kind of video should I upload?#

The clearer the video, the better the result. Make sure the video is high resolution, well-lit, and shows the component in action. Speak clearly about what you're doing in the video to give Replay more context.

What if the generated code isn't perfect?#

Replay is designed to get you 80-90% of the way there. You can easily edit the generated code within Replay's interface to make any necessary adjustments. Think of it as a powerful starting point, not a complete replacement for manual coding.

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