How to convert a UI video into a production-ready Next.js app with Prisma?

TL;DR: Replay leverages video analysis and AI to automatically generate a production-ready Next.js application with Prisma integration from a simple UI screen recording.

Stop Mocking, Start Replaying: Video-to-Code is Here#

Building UIs is often repetitive. You watch a demo, envision the flow, and then painstakingly translate that mental image into code. What if you could skip the translation and directly generate the UI from a video? That's the power of Replay. It's not just screenshot-to-code; it's behavior-driven reconstruction.

This article demonstrates how to convert a UI video into a production-ready Next.js app with Prisma, automatically. Forget manual coding – let's Replay.

The Problem: From Vision to Validation#

The traditional UI development process is fraught with friction:

1. •Inaccurate Mockups: Static mockups rarely capture dynamic behavior.
2. •Communication Gaps: Describing complex interactions is prone to errors.
3. •Time-Consuming Implementation: Translating designs into functional code takes time and effort.

These problems are amplified when dealing with complex applications or intricate user flows. We need a way to bridge the gap between the initial vision and the final, validated product.

Replay: The Behavior-Driven Solution#

Replay addresses these challenges by analyzing video – the ultimate source of truth for user behavior. Unlike screenshot-to-code tools that only capture static visual elements, Replay understands what the user is trying to do.

Here's how Replay differs from other code generation tools:

Replay's "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" engine uses AI to:

• •Identify UI elements and their relationships
• •Infer user intent based on interactions
• •Generate clean, maintainable code
• •Integrate seamlessly with backend services

Building a Next.js App with Prisma from Video: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's dive into a practical example: converting a video of a simple task management app into a functional Next.js application with Prisma.

Step 1: Capture the UI Video#

Record a video of the desired UI flow. This could be a demo, a screen recording of an existing app, or even a hand-drawn mockup brought to life with simple animations. The clearer the video, the better the results.

💡 Pro Tip: Focus on demonstrating the behavior of the UI. Show how users interact with elements, navigate between pages, and trigger actions.

Step 2: Upload and Process with Replay#

Upload the video to Replay. The AI engine will analyze the video, identify UI elements, and reconstruct the application's structure and behavior. This process typically takes a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of the video.

Step 3: Configure the Next.js Project#

Once the video is processed, Replay generates a basic Next.js project structure. You can then customize the project settings, including:

• •Project Name: A descriptive name for your application.
• •Database Connection: Configure the Prisma connection string for your database (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite).
• •Styling Framework: Choose your preferred styling approach (e.g., CSS Modules, Tailwind CSS, Styled Components).

Step 4: Review and Refine the Generated Code#

Replay provides a code preview that allows you to review and refine the generated code. This is where you can make adjustments to:

• •Component Structure: Fine-tune the organization of components.
• •Styling: Customize the appearance of UI elements.
• •Data Binding: Ensure data is correctly mapped to UI components.

📝 Note: Replay aims to generate production-ready code, but manual review and refinement are often necessary to achieve optimal results.

Step 5: Integrate Prisma for Data Management#

Replay automatically generates Prisma schemas and queries based on the data elements identified in the video. For example, if the video shows a list of tasks with titles and descriptions, Replay will create a corresponding Prisma schema:

prisma
// prisma/schema.prisma
generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client-js"
}

datasource db {
  provider = "postgresql" // Or your chosen database
  url      = env("DATABASE_URL")
}

model Task {
  id          Int       @id @default(autoincrement())
  title       String
  description String?
  createdAt   DateTime  @default(now())
  updatedAt   DateTime  @updatedAt
}

Replay also generates Next.js API routes for interacting with the database using Prisma:

typescript
// pages/api/tasks.ts
import { PrismaClient } from '@prisma/client';
import type { NextApiRequest, NextApiResponse } from 'next';

const prisma = new PrismaClient();

export default async function handler(req: NextApiRequest, res: NextApiResponse) {
  if (req.method === 'GET') {
    try {
      const tasks = await prisma.task.findMany();
      res.status(200).json(tasks);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
      res.status(500).json({ error: 'Failed to fetch tasks' });
    }
  } else if (req.method === 'POST') {
    // Handle task creation
  } else {
    res.status(405).json({ error: 'Method not allowed' });
  }
}

Step 6: Deploy and Iterate#

Once you're satisfied with the generated code, you can deploy the Next.js application to your preferred hosting platform (e.g., Vercel, Netlify). From there, you can continue to iterate on the UI and functionality, leveraging Replay as a starting point for rapid development.

Benefits of Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Using Replay for UI development offers several key benefits:

• •Faster Development: Automate the process of translating designs into code.
• •Improved Accuracy: Capture user behavior and intent more effectively.
• •Reduced Communication Gaps: Use video as a common language between designers and developers.
• •Enhanced Collaboration: Enable stakeholders to provide feedback on interactive prototypes.
• •Production-Ready Code: Generate clean, maintainable code that integrates seamlessly with backend services.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay significantly accelerates development, it's not a magic bullet. Complex UIs and intricate logic may still require manual coding and refinement.

Replay's Key Features#

Replay offers a comprehensive set of features for behavior-driven UI development:

• •Multi-Page Generation: Generate code for applications with multiple pages and complex navigation flows.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase for authentication, storage, and real-time data.
• •Style Injection: Customize the appearance of UI elements using your preferred styling framework.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize user flows and identify potential bottlenecks in the user experience.
• •AI-Powered Code Generation: Leverage AI to generate clean, maintainable code that adheres to best practices.

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 functionality and higher usage limits.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to accelerate UI development, Replay focuses on behavior-driven reconstruction using video as the primary input. v0.dev relies on text prompts and generates code based on AI-driven suggestions. Replay excels at capturing complex user flows and generating code that accurately reflects the intended behavior.

What kind of videos work best with Replay?#

Videos that clearly demonstrate the user interface and its interactions tend to produce the best results. Focus on capturing the complete user flow, including navigation, data input, and button clicks.

What kind of applications can Replay generate?#

Replay can generate a wide range of applications, from simple landing pages to complex web applications. The complexity of the application depends on the quality of the input video and the level of customization required.

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