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January 4, 20267 min readHow to Convert

How to Convert an Animated Video to Functional React Code Using Replay AI (2026)

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay AI leverages video analysis and Gemini to reconstruct functional React UI code from screen recordings, surpassing traditional screenshot-to-code methods by understanding user behavior and intent.

The future of front-end development isn't about meticulously crafting every line of code from scratch; it's about leveraging AI to understand user needs and generate working applications with unprecedented speed. Screenshot-to-code tools are a relic of the past. In 2026, the gold standard is video-to-code.

The Problem with Screenshots: A Static View of a Dynamic World#

For years, developers have relied on static screenshots to translate design concepts into functional code. But screenshots are inherently limited. They capture only a single moment in time, failing to convey the dynamic interactions, animations, and user flows that define modern web applications. This static representation leads to:

  • Incomplete understanding of user intent
  • Manual recreation of animations and transitions
  • Difficulty in capturing multi-page workflows
  • Increased development time and cost

Consider a simple animated button. A screenshot can only show one state. How do you capture the hover effect, the click animation, or the transition to a new page? The answer: you can't, not accurately. That's where Replay comes in.

Introducing Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay is a video-to-code engine that uses Gemini to reconstruct working UI from screen recordings. Unlike screenshot-to-code tools, Replay understands what users are trying to do, not just what they see. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" approach unlocks a new level of efficiency and accuracy in front-end development.

Replay analyzes video to understand user behavior, identifying key interactions, animations, and navigation patterns. It then uses this information to generate clean, functional React code, complete with styling and data integration.

Key Features:#

  • Multi-Page Generation: Replay can reconstruct entire user flows, spanning multiple pages and interactions.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate your generated code with your Supabase backend.
  • Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of your application with custom CSS or styling libraries.
  • Product Flow Maps: Visualize user flows and identify potential bottlenecks in your application.

Replay vs. The Competition: A Head-to-Head Comparison#

FeatureScreenshot-to-Code ToolReplay
Input TypeStatic ImagesVideo Recordings
Behavior Analysis
Animation ReconstructionLimitedFull
Multi-Page Support
User Flow Understanding
Data IntegrationManualAutomated (Supabase)
Code QualityVariableHigh
Learning CurveLowLow
AccuracyLowHigh
Time SavingsModerateSignificant

As you can see, Replay offers a significant advantage over traditional screenshot-to-code tools. By analyzing video recordings, Replay can capture the full context of user interactions, leading to more accurate and efficient code generation.

Converting an Animated Video to Functional React Code: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through a practical example: converting a video of an animated landing page to functional React code using Replay.

Step 1: Recording the Video#

First, record a video of the animated landing page. Make sure to capture all key interactions, including:

  • Page load animation
  • Hover effects
  • Button clicks
  • Form submissions
  • Transitions between pages

The clearer the video, the better the results. Aim for high resolution and stable framerate.

💡 Pro Tip: Use a screen recording tool that allows you to highlight mouse clicks and key presses for improved accuracy.

Step 2: Uploading to Replay#

Upload the video to Replay. The AI engine will begin analyzing the video, identifying key elements and interactions.

Step 3: Configuring the Output#

Configure the output settings, including:

  • Target framework (React)
  • Styling library (e.g., CSS Modules, Styled Components)
  • Data integration (Supabase)
  • Component naming conventions

Step 4: Reviewing the Generated Code#

Replay will generate the React code, complete with styling and data integration. Review the code to ensure accuracy and make any necessary adjustments.

typescript
// Example of a generated React component with animation import React, { useState } from 'react'; import styled, { keyframes } from 'styled-components'; const fadeIn = keyframes` from { opacity: 0; } to { opacity: 1; } `; const Button = styled.button` background-color: #007bff; color: white; padding: 10px 20px; border-radius: 5px; animation: ${fadeIn} 1s ease-in-out; &:hover { background-color: #0056b3; } `; const AnimatedComponent = () => { const [isClicked, setIsClicked] = useState(false); return ( <Button onClick={() => setIsClicked(!isClicked)}> {isClicked ? 'Clicked!' : 'Click Me'} </Button> ); }; export default AnimatedComponent;

This code snippet demonstrates how Replay can automatically generate styled components with animations, capturing the dynamic behavior from the video recording.

Step 5: Integrating with Your Project#

Integrate the generated code into your existing React project. You can copy and paste the code directly or use Replay's CLI to automate the integration process.

Advanced Features: Supabase Integration and Product Flow Maps#

Replay goes beyond simple code generation, offering advanced features like Supabase integration and product flow maps.

Supabase Integration#

Replay can automatically generate code that integrates with your Supabase backend. This includes:

  • Data fetching
  • Authentication
  • Real-time updates

This eliminates the need for manual data integration, saving you significant development time.

📝 Note: You will need to configure your Supabase credentials in Replay to enable this feature.

typescript
// Example of a generated React component with Supabase integration import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react'; import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'; const supabaseUrl = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_URL; const supabaseKey = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY; const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey); const DataComponent = () => { const [data, setData] = useState([]); useEffect(() => { const fetchData = async () => { const { data, error } = await supabase .from('your_table') .select('*'); if (error) { console.error('Error fetching data:', error); } else { setData(data); } }; fetchData(); }, []); return ( <ul> {data.map(item => ( <li key={item.id}>{item.name}</li> ))} </ul> ); }; export default DataComponent;

This code snippet demonstrates how Replay can automatically generate code that fetches data from your Supabase database and displays it in a React component.

Product Flow Maps#

Replay can generate product flow maps that visualize user flows and identify potential bottlenecks in your application. These maps are automatically generated from the video recording, providing valuable insights into user behavior.

This feature allows you to:

  • Identify drop-off points
  • Optimize user flows
  • Improve conversion rates

⚠️ Warning: Ensure your video recordings capture the entire user flow for accurate product flow map generation.

The Future of Front-End Development is Here#

Replay represents a paradigm shift in front-end development. By leveraging video analysis and AI, Replay enables developers to build applications faster, more accurately, and with a deeper understanding of user needs. The days of painstakingly recreating designs from static screenshots are over. The future is behavior-driven, and it's powered by Replay.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features and usage. Paid plans are available for increased usage and access to advanced features like Supabase integration and product flow maps.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to accelerate front-end development, Replay distinguishes itself by using video as the primary input. This allows Replay to understand user behavior and interactions, leading to more accurate and functional code generation. v0.dev primarily uses text prompts and generates code based on those prompts, while Replay analyzes real-world usage patterns captured in video.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Currently, Replay primarily supports React. Support for other frameworks like Vue.js and Angular is planned for future releases.

How accurate is the generated code?#

Replay's accuracy is highly dependent on the quality of the video recording. Clear, high-resolution videos with stable framerates will result in more accurate code generation.

Can I customize the generated code?#

Yes, the generated code is fully customizable. You can modify the code to fit your specific needs and integrate it with your existing codebase.


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

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