How to Convert a Video of a UI Design into a Full Stack React Native App Using Replay 2026

TL;DR: Replay leverages video analysis and AI to automatically generate a full-stack React Native application from a screen recording of a UI design, significantly accelerating development.

From Video to React Native: The Replay Revolution#

Creating mobile applications can be a time-consuming process, often involving lengthy design iterations and complex coding. Traditional methods rely on static mockups and manual code implementation. But what if you could simply record a video of your desired UI and have a functional React Native app generated automatically? That's the promise of Replay.

Replay is a video-to-code engine powered by Gemini that reconstructs working UI from screen recordings. Unlike screenshot-to-code tools that merely interpret visual elements, Replay understands behavior. It uses "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction," treating video as the source of truth to generate more robust and accurate code. In this guide, we'll explore how to convert a video of a UI design into a full-stack React Native app using Replay.

Why Video-to-Code is a Game Changer#

The traditional design-to-code workflow often involves multiple tools and handoffs, leading to inefficiencies and potential misinterpretations. Video-to-code offers a more streamlined approach:

• •Rapid Prototyping: Quickly iterate on designs by recording and generating code.
• •Reduced Development Time: Automate the tedious task of manually coding UI components.
• •Improved Communication: Bridge the gap between designers and developers with a single, dynamic source of truth.
• •Accessibility: Easily capture existing workflows to create applications, without requiring expert coding knowledge.

Replay: The Next Generation of UI Reconstruction#

Replay goes beyond simple image recognition. Its key features include:

• •Multi-page Generation: Construct complex, multi-screen applications from a single video.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly connect your app to a backend database for dynamic data.
• •Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of your app with CSS-in-JS or other styling solutions.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user journey and interactions within your app.
• •Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: Understands user intent from video, not just visual elements.

How Replay Differs from Other Tools#

The market has seen various tools attempting to bridge the design-to-code gap. However, Replay stands out with its unique approach:

💡 Pro Tip: Replay excels in scenarios where you want to capture existing app flows or rapidly prototype new features based on real user interactions.

Converting a Video to a React Native App: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through the process of converting a video of a UI design into a full-stack React Native application using Replay.

Step 1: Recording Your UI Design#

Start by recording a video of your desired UI design. This could be a walkthrough of an existing app, a prototype created in a design tool, or even a hand-drawn mockup. Ensure the video clearly demonstrates the intended user interactions and flows.

📝 Note: The clearer and more deliberate the video, the better Replay can understand and reconstruct the UI.

Step 2: Uploading to Replay#

Once you have your video, upload it to the Replay platform. Replay will begin analyzing the video, identifying UI elements, user interactions, and overall application flow.

Step 3: Reviewing and Refining the Generated Code#

After the analysis is complete, Replay will present you with the generated React Native code. This code will include:

• •Component Structure: Replay will automatically create React Native components based on the UI elements in the video.
• •Navigation Logic: Replay will infer navigation between screens based on the user interactions in the video.
• •Basic Styling: Replay will attempt to replicate the visual appearance of the UI elements.

Review the generated code and make any necessary refinements. You can adjust the component structure, modify the navigation logic, and fine-tune the styling to match your exact requirements.

typescript
// Example of a generated React Native component
import React from 'react';
import { View, Text, StyleSheet, TouchableOpacity } from 'react-native';

const HomeScreen = () => {
  return (
    <View style={styles.container}>
      <Text style={styles.title}>Welcome to My App</Text>
      <TouchableOpacity style={styles.button}>
        <Text style={styles.buttonText}>Get Started</Text>
      </TouchableOpacity>
    </View>
  );
};

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {
    flex: 1,
    justifyContent: 'center',
    alignItems: 'center',
  },
  title: {
    fontSize: 24,
    marginBottom: 20,
  },
  button: {
    backgroundColor: 'blue',
    padding: 10,
    borderRadius: 5,
  },
  buttonText: {
    color: 'white',
    fontSize: 16,
  },
});

export default HomeScreen;

Step 4: Integrating with Supabase (Optional)#

If your app requires a backend, you can seamlessly integrate it with Supabase. Replay can automatically generate the necessary API calls and data models based on the user interactions in the video.

For example, if the video shows a user submitting a form, Replay can generate the code to send the form data to your Supabase database.

typescript
// Example of a Supabase API call
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

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

const submitForm = async (data) => {
  const { error } = await supabase
    .from('your_table')
    .insert([data]);

  if (error) {
    console.error('Error submitting form:', error);
  } else {
    console.log('Form submitted successfully!');
  }
};

Step 5: Adding Style Injection#

Replay allows you to inject custom styles into your app using CSS-in-JS libraries like Styled Components or Emotion. This gives you complete control over the look and feel of your application.

⚠️ Warning: Ensure your style injection method is compatible with React Native.

Step 6: Building and Deploying Your App#

Once you are satisfied with the generated code and have integrated any necessary backend services, you can build and deploy your React Native app to your desired platform (iOS, Android, or web).

Advanced Techniques for Optimizing Replay Output#

To get the most out of Replay, consider these advanced techniques:

• •Use Clear and Consistent UI Patterns: Replay is more effective when it can recognize common UI patterns and components.
• •Provide Detailed Annotations: Add annotations to your video to provide additional context and instructions to Replay.
• •Break Down Complex Flows: For complex applications, break down the video into smaller, more manageable segments.
• •Leverage Replay's Style Injection Features: Customize the appearance of your app to match your brand guidelines.
• •Iterate and Refine: Use Replay as a starting point and iteratively refine the generated code to achieve your desired outcome.

Real-World Use Cases#

Replay can be applied to a wide range of use cases:

• •Rapid Prototyping: Quickly create interactive prototypes for user testing and feedback.
• •Legacy App Modernization: Capture existing app flows and automatically generate code for a modern React Native app.
• •Educational Applications: Create interactive tutorials and learning experiences by recording and generating code from demonstrations.
• •Accessibility Solutions: Easily capture existing workflows to create accessible applications for users with disabilities.

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 both tools aim to accelerate UI development, Replay uses video input and behavior analysis, offering a more dynamic and context-aware approach compared to v0.dev's reliance on text prompts and AI-generated designs. Replay focuses on reconstructing existing UI flows, while v0.dev is more geared towards generating new designs.

What types of videos work best with Replay?#

Videos with clear UI elements, consistent interactions, and minimal extraneous information tend to produce the best results. Avoid videos with excessive camera movement or distracting background elements.

What if Replay misinterprets a UI element?#

You can manually edit the generated code to correct any misinterpretations. Replay also provides feedback mechanisms to help improve its accuracy over time.

Can I use Replay to generate code for other frameworks besides React Native?#

Currently, Replay primarily supports React Native. However, future versions may include support for other popular frameworks.

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