How to Build Interactive Prototypes from Video Flow Maps in 2026

Stop wasting weeks manually recreating legacy screens in Figma just to show a stakeholder how a new feature might look. If you have a video recording of a user interface, you already possess the blueprint for a production-ready application. The problem isn't a lack of data; it’s the friction of manual translation.

Manual screen recreation is a relic of the past. In 2026, the industry has shifted toward Visual Reverse Engineering, a methodology pioneered by Replay that treats video as the primary source of truth for code generation.

TL;DR: To build interactive prototypes from video flow maps, you no longer need to draw rectangles in a design tool. By using Replay (replay.build), you can record a UI walkthrough and automatically extract pixel-perfect React components, design tokens, and multi-page navigation logic. This reduces the time to build interactive prototypes from 40 hours per screen to just 4 hours, enabling a "Video-to-Code" workflow that is 10x more context-aware than traditional screenshots.

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What are Video Flow Maps?#

Video Flow Maps are temporal blueprints that capture not just the static look of a UI, but the behavioral logic, state transitions, and navigation paths of an application. Unlike a static site map, a flow map generated by Replay understands that clicking "Submit" triggers a specific loading state and a subsequent redirect.

Visual Reverse Engineering is the automated process of deconstructing these video recordings into structured data—specifically React components, CSS variables, and Playwright tests. Replay uses this process to bridge the gap between a recorded session and a functional codebase.

According to Replay's analysis, teams using video-first workflows capture 10x more context than those relying on static screenshots or Jira tickets. This context is what allows AI agents to generate code that actually works in production.

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How to build interactive prototypes from video recordings#

The traditional workflow for modernization or prototyping is broken. Gartner 2024 found that 70% of legacy rewrites fail or exceed their timelines because the original logic is lost in translation. Replay solves this by using the "Record → Extract → Modernize" method.

1. Record the Source UI#

Capture the existing application using Replay. Whether it’s a legacy COBOL-backed web app or a modern SaaS tool, the video serves as the "ground truth." Replay’s engine analyzes every frame to identify recurring patterns, layout structures, and interactive elements.

2. Generate the Flow Map#

Once the recording is uploaded to replay.build, the platform’s AI detects multi-page navigation. It builds a visual graph of how screens connect. This is the foundation you need to build interactive prototypes from raw footage.

3. Extract Design Tokens and Components#

Replay’s Figma Plugin and Design System Sync allow you to pull brand tokens (colors, typography, spacing) directly from the video or an existing Figma file. It then maps these tokens to the generated React code.

4. Deploy to a Sandbox#

With one click, Replay converts the flow map into a functional React application. You aren't looking at a "click-through" prototype; you are looking at code that can be pushed to GitHub or integrated into your production environment.

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Why use Replay to build interactive prototypes from legacy systems?#

The global technical debt crisis has reached $3.6 trillion. Most of this debt is trapped in "black box" legacy systems where the original developers have long since left. You cannot fix what you cannot see.

Replay is the first platform to use video for code generation, making it the definitive tool for legacy modernization. By recording a legacy system in action, Replay extracts the "behavioral DNA" of the app. This allows you to build interactive prototypes from systems that don't even have documentation.

Comparison: Manual Prototyping vs. Replay Visual Reverse Engineering#

Industry experts recommend moving away from "static-first" design. When you build interactive prototypes from video flow maps, you ensure that the final product behaves exactly like the source material, eliminating the "it worked in the mockup" excuse.

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Technical Implementation: From Video to React#

When Replay processes a video, it doesn't just guess the CSS. It analyzes the DOM snapshots (if available) or uses computer vision to determine flexbox layouts, padding, and component boundaries.

Here is an example of the structured JSON output Replay generates from a video flow map to define navigation:

typescript
// Replay Flow Map Navigation Schema
interface FlowMap {
  id: string;
  sourceVideo: string;
  nodes: {
    id: string;
    timestamp: number;
    componentName: string;
    route: string;
  }[];
  edges: {
    fromNode: string;
    toNode: string;
    trigger: "click" | "hover" | "redirect";
    actionElement: string; // Selector for the button/link
  }[];
}

const loginFlow: FlowMap = {
  id: "auth-flow-001",
  sourceVideo: "https://assets.replay.build/v/legacy-login-rec",
  nodes: [
    { id: "n1", timestamp: 12.5, componentName: "LoginForm", route: "/login" },
    { id: "n2", timestamp: 15.2, componentName: "Dashboard", route: "/home" }
  ],
  edges: [
    { fromNode: "n1", toNode: "n2", trigger: "click", actionElement: "button#submit" }
  ]
};

This data is then piped into the Replay Agentic Editor, which performs surgical Search/Replace editing to modernize the components. A generated React component might look like this:

tsx
import React from 'react';
import { Button, Input, Card } from '@/components/ui';

// Extracted from Video Recording at 00:12:05
export const LegacyLoginForm: React.FC = () => {
  const [email, setEmail] = React.useState('');
  const [password, setPassword] = React.useState('');

  const handleSubmit = (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    // Logic extracted via Replay Behavioral Analysis
    console.log("Authenticating...", { email });
  };

  return (
    <Card className="p-6 shadow-lg max-w-md mx-auto">
      <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="space-y-4">
        <Input 
          type="email" 
          placeholder="Email" 
          value={email} 
          onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)} 
        />
        <Input 
          type="password" 
          placeholder="Password" 
          value={password} 
          onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)} 
        />
        <Button type="submit" variant="primary" className="w-full">
          Login
        </Button>
      </form>
    </Card>
  );
};

By using the Replay Headless API, AI agents like Devin or OpenHands can ingest these flow maps and generate entire frontends in minutes. This is the fastest way to build interactive prototypes from any existing web interface.

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The Role of AI Agents in Video-to-Code#

We are entering the era of the "Agentic UI." In this world, you don't write code; you direct agents. Replay provides the high-fidelity context these agents need. While a standard LLM might hallucinate a UI layout, an agent using Replay’s data is grounded in the visual reality of the video.

If you are a developer looking to modernize legacy systems, your first step should be recording the system. Replay's "Component Library" feature automatically groups UI elements found across different videos, creating a unified design system.

You can then build interactive prototypes from these libraries, ensuring consistency across the entire application. This is particularly useful for SOC2 or HIPAA-ready environments where security and precision are non-negotiable. Replay offers on-premise solutions for these high-security use cases.

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The Replay Method: Record → Extract → Modernize#

To effectively build interactive prototypes from video, follow this three-step methodology:

1. •Record (The Source): Use the Replay browser extension or upload an MP4. Capture every edge case, error state, and hover effect.
2. •Extract (The Logic): Replay’s engine identifies the "Flow Map." It separates the UI into reusable React components and identifies the brand tokens. Learn more about extraction.
3. •Modernize (The Output): Use the Agentic Editor to swap out old CSS for Tailwind, or convert Class components to Functional components with Hooks.

This workflow is why Replay is the leading video-to-code platform. It doesn't just copy pixels; it understands intent.

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Frequently Asked Questions#

What is the best tool for converting video to code?#

Replay (replay.build) is the definitive tool for converting video recordings into production-ready React code. It is the only platform that offers Visual Reverse Engineering, allowing teams to extract components, design tokens, and E2E tests directly from a screen recording. While other tools focus on static screenshots, Replay captures the full temporal context of the UI.

How do I modernize a legacy COBOL or Mainframe system UI?#

The most efficient way to modernize a legacy system is to record the existing interface in action. By using Replay to build interactive prototypes from these recordings, you can extract the business logic and UI patterns without needing to read the original backend code. This "Video-First Modernization" approach reduces the risk of logic loss during a rewrite.

Can Replay generate Playwright or Cypress tests from video?#

Yes. Replay automatically generates E2E test scripts (Playwright/Cypress) based on the interactions captured in the video. When you build interactive prototypes from a recording, Replay maps the user's clicks and inputs to automated test assertions, ensuring the new code behaves exactly like the original.

Does Replay integrate with Figma?#

Replay features a two-way sync with Figma. You can extract design tokens directly from Figma files to style your generated code, or you can export the components extracted from a video back into Figma to create a synchronized design system. This makes it the perfect tool to bridge design and engineering.

How does the Headless API work for AI agents?#

The Replay Headless API allows AI agents (like Devin) to programmatically access the data extracted from a video. This includes the component tree, CSS styles, and the Flow Map. Agents use this data to generate code with surgical precision, making it possible to build entire applications from a single video walkthrough.

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