How to Convert Design into Production Code with React Native & Replay AI in 2026

TL;DR: Stop manually translating designs; in 2026, Replay AI uses video analysis to automatically reconstruct production-ready React Native code, understanding user behavior for a truly faithful and functional conversion.

The year is 2026. We're still staring at design mockups and painstakingly recreating them in code? Absolutely not. The era of pixel-perfect recreation is over. It's time for behavior-perfect reconstruction. Forget screenshots; we're talking about video. Video as the single source of truth.

The Flaw in Screenshot-to-Code#

Screenshot-to-code tools promised efficiency, but they consistently fall short. Why? Because they only capture the static visual representation of a design. They don't understand the dynamic interactions, the user flows, or the underlying logic. This leads to:

• •Incomplete functionality
• •Missing states and transitions
• •A mountain of manual tweaking

Imagine trying to understand a movie from a single frame. That's what screenshot-to-code is like.

Replay changes the game.

Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: Video as the Blueprint#

Replay leverages Gemini's powerful video analysis capabilities to understand behavior, not just appearance. It's not just seeing a button; it's seeing the user click the button, triggering a specific action. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" allows Replay to generate code that accurately reflects the intended functionality.

How Replay Works#

Replay analyzes the video recording of a user interacting with a design prototype. It identifies:

• •UI elements (buttons, text fields, images, etc.)
• •User interactions (clicks, swipes, form submissions, etc.)
• •Page transitions and navigation flows
• •Data inputs and outputs

This information is then used to generate React Native code that replicates the observed behavior.

💡 Pro Tip: Record your design prototype interactions clearly and deliberately for optimal Replay results. Clear video means clearer intent.

Building a React Native App from Video with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through a practical example: converting a video of a simple e-commerce app prototype into React Native code using Replay.

Step 1: Record the Prototype Interaction#

Record a video of yourself interacting with your design prototype. Be sure to:

• •Show all key user flows (e.g., browsing products, adding to cart, checkout).
• •Clearly demonstrate all interactive elements.
• •Include any data input (e.g., filling out forms).

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to the Replay platform. Replay will automatically analyze the video and begin reconstructing the UI.

Step 3: Review and Refine the Generated Code#

Replay generates React Native code, complete with components, styling, and event handlers. You can then review the code and make any necessary refinements.

typescript
// Example React Native component generated by Replay
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { View, Text, TextInput, Button, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';

const ProductDetails = ({ product }) => {
  const [quantity, setQuantity] = useState(1);

  const handleAddToCart = () => {
    // Add product to cart logic here (e.g., using a context or Redux)
    console.log(`Added ${quantity} ${product.name} to cart`);
  };

  return (
    <View style={styles.container}>
      <Text style={styles.title}>{product.name}</Text>
      <Text style={styles.price}>${product.price}</Text>
      <TextInput
        style={styles.quantityInput}
        value={quantity.toString()}
        onChangeText={(text) => setQuantity(parseInt(text) || 1)}
        keyboardType="number-pad"
      />
      <Button title="Add to Cart" onPress={handleAddToCart} />
    </View>
  );
};

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {
    padding: 20,
  },
  title: {
    fontSize: 24,
    fontWeight: 'bold',
  },
  price: {
    fontSize: 18,
  },
  quantityInput: {
    borderWidth: 1,
    borderColor: '#ccc',
    padding: 10,
    marginVertical: 10,
  },
});

export default ProductDetails;

This code includes:

• •A functional component
  text

  ProductDetails
  .
• •State management for the product quantity.
• •An
  text

  handleAddToCart
  function that simulates adding the product to a cart.
• •Basic styling using
  text

  StyleSheet
  .

Step 4: Integrate with Supabase (Optional)#

Replay seamlessly integrates with Supabase, allowing you to connect your UI to a backend database. If your video demonstrates data fetching or updates, Replay can generate the necessary API calls and data binding logic.

📝 Note: To use Supabase integration, you'll need to provide your Supabase API URL and key to Replay.

typescript
// Example of fetching product 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 fetchProduct = async (productId) => {
  const { data, error } = await supabase
    .from('products')
    .select('*')
    .eq('id', productId)
    .single();

  if (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching product:', error);
    return null;
  }

  return data;
};

// Usage example within the ProductDetails component
useEffect(() => {
  const getProduct = async () => {
    const productData = await fetchProduct(product.id);
    // Handle product data
  };
  getProduct();
}, [product.id]);

This code snippet shows how to:

• •Initialize a Supabase client.
• •Fetch product data from a Supabase table.
• •Handle potential errors.

Step 5: Style Injection and Customization#

Replay allows you to inject custom styles into the generated code. This can be done using:

• •CSS-in-JS libraries (e.g., Styled Components, Emotion)
• •Traditional CSS files
• •Inline styles

⚠️ Warning: While Replay attempts to accurately capture the visual style from the video, manual adjustments may be necessary to achieve the desired look and feel.

Replay's Key Advantages#

• •Speed: Generate a functional React Native app in a fraction of the time it would take to code manually.
• •Accuracy: Behavior-driven reconstruction ensures that the generated code accurately reflects the intended functionality.
• •Collaboration: Easily share video recordings and generated code with team members.
• •Iteration: Quickly iterate on designs by simply recording new videos and regenerating the code.
• •Reduced Errors: By automating the conversion process, Replay minimizes the risk of human error.

Beyond Basic Conversion: Product Flow Maps#

Replay doesn't just generate code; it generates understanding. The platform creates Product Flow Maps, visualizing the user's journey through the application. This helps developers:

• •Identify potential usability issues.
• •Optimize user flows for better conversion rates.
• •Gain a deeper understanding of user behavior.

The Future is Video-First#

The future of UI development is video-first. Replay is leading the charge, empowering developers to build better apps faster by leveraging the power of video analysis and behavior-driven reconstruction. Stop translating; start understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits. Check the Replay pricing page for the most up-to-date information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to accelerate UI development, Replay distinguishes itself by using video as input and focusing on behavioral reconstruction. v0.dev typically relies on text prompts and generates code based on textual descriptions, not actual user interactions. Replay captures the nuances of user behavior that text prompts often miss.

What file types does Replay support for video upload?#

Replay supports common video formats like MP4, MOV, and AVI.

Can Replay handle complex animations and transitions?#

Replay is continuously improving its ability to handle complex animations and transitions. While it may not perfectly capture every detail, it provides a solid foundation that can be further refined manually.

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