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January 5, 20269 min readHow to Convert

How to Convert Design Into Production Code with React Native With UI Replay UI tested in 2026

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay lets you convert video recordings of UI interactions into production-ready React Native code, leveraging behavior-driven reconstruction to understand user intent and generate functional components.

The year is 2026. Design handoffs are still a pain. You've got a beautifully crafted UI, a detailed product demo video, and the daunting task of translating it all into React Native code. Forget static mockups and endless spec docs. What if you could simply show the system what you want, and it generates the code for you? That's the power of behavior-driven reconstruction, and Replay is leading the charge.

The Problem: From Design to Functional Code is a Mess#

Traditional methods for converting designs into code are riddled with inefficiencies:

  • Static Mockups: Relying on static screenshots or design files leads to interpretation errors and missing context regarding user interactions.
  • Manual Coding: Translating designs pixel-by-pixel is time-consuming, error-prone, and doesn't capture the dynamic behavior of the UI.
  • Communication Gaps: Misunderstandings between designers and developers result in rework and delays.

These problems are amplified in the fast-paced world of mobile development, where rapid iteration and user experience are paramount. We need a solution that understands intent, not just appearance.

Enter Replay: Behavior-Driven Code Generation#

Replay is a revolutionary video-to-code engine that utilizes 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. It analyzes video to understand user behavior and intent, leading to more accurate and functional code generation.

How Replay Works:#

Replay employs "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" – treating video as the source of truth. This means the system analyzes the video to understand:

  1. UI Elements: Identifying buttons, text fields, images, and other components.
  2. User Interactions: Recognizing taps, swipes, scrolls, and other gestures.
  3. State Changes: Tracking how the UI responds to user actions.
  4. Navigation Flows: Mapping out the different screens and transitions within the application.

By understanding these elements, Replay can generate React Native code that accurately reflects the intended behavior of the UI.

Replay Features in Action#

Replay offers a suite of features designed to streamline the design-to-code workflow:

  • Multi-page generation: Replay can generate code for entire product flows, not just single screens.
  • Supabase integration: Seamlessly connect your generated code to a Supabase backend for data persistence and real-time updates.
  • Style injection: Apply custom styles to your components to match your brand guidelines.
  • Product Flow maps: Visualize the user journey through your application.

Replay vs. Traditional Methods#

FeatureTraditional Methods (Figma/Sketch + Manual Coding)Screenshot-to-Code ToolsReplay
InputStatic Design FilesScreenshotsVideo Recordings
Behavior AnalysisManual InterpretationLimitedComprehensive (Behavior-Driven)
Code QualityHighly Variable (Dependent on Developer)Basic, Often InaccurateProduction-Ready, Functional
Learning CurveLow (Design Tools), High (Coding)MediumLow
Time to ProductionHighMediumLow
Dynamic UI SupportPoorPoorExcellent
Supabase IntegrationManualLimitedSeamless

Converting Design to Code with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Here's how to convert a design into production-ready React Native code using Replay. We'll assume you have a video recording of a simple "To-Do List" app demo.

Step 1: Prepare Your Video#

Ensure your video is clear and demonstrates the intended user flow. Focus on showcasing the key interactions and state changes.

💡 Pro Tip: Narrate your actions in the video to provide additional context for Replay. For example, say "Now I'm adding a new task" before tapping the "Add" button.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

  1. Create a Replay account and log in.
  2. Click the "Upload Video" button.
  3. Select your video file.
  4. Give your project a descriptive name (e.g., "ToDoListApp").

Step 3: Replay Analyzes Your Video#

Replay will now process your video, identifying UI elements, user interactions, and state changes. This process may take a few minutes depending on the length of the video.

Step 4: Review and Refine#

Once the analysis is complete, Replay will present you with a visual representation of the reconstructed UI and the generated code.

  1. Review the identified UI elements and interactions.
  2. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure accuracy.
  3. Customize the styling to match your brand guidelines.

Step 5: Generate React Native Code#

Click the "Generate Code" button. Replay will generate the React Native code for your UI, including components, styles, and event handlers.

Step 6: Integrate with Your Project#

  1. Download the generated code as a ZIP file.
  2. Extract the contents of the ZIP file into your React Native project.
  3. Install any necessary dependencies (e.g.,
    text
    react-native-vector-icons
    ).

Step 7: Connect to Supabase (Optional)#

If you want to connect your UI to a Supabase backend, follow these steps:

  1. Create a Supabase project and obtain your API URL and API key.
  2. Update the generated code with your Supabase credentials.
  3. Implement the necessary data fetching and persistence logic.

Example: Generated React Native Code Snippet#

Here's an example of a React Native component generated by Replay for a simple "Add Task" button:

typescript
// AddTaskButton.tsx import React from 'react'; import { TouchableOpacity, Text, StyleSheet } from 'react-native'; interface AddTaskButtonProps { onPress: () => void; } const AddTaskButton: React.FC<AddTaskButtonProps> = ({ onPress }) => { return ( <TouchableOpacity style={styles.button} onPress={onPress}> <Text style={styles.buttonText}>Add Task</Text> </TouchableOpacity> ); }; const styles = StyleSheet.create({ button: { backgroundColor: '#4CAF50', padding: 15, borderRadius: 5, alignItems: 'center', }, buttonText: { color: 'white', fontSize: 16, }, }); export default AddTaskButton;

This code is fully functional and can be directly integrated into your React Native project.

📝 Note: The generated code may require some adjustments to fully integrate with your existing application architecture. However, Replay significantly reduces the amount of manual coding required.

Benefits of Using Replay#

  • Accelerated Development: Reduce development time by automating the design-to-code process.
  • Improved Accuracy: Minimize interpretation errors by using video as the source of truth.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Foster better communication between designers and developers.
  • Increased Productivity: Free up developers to focus on more complex tasks.
  • Reduced Costs: Lower development costs by streamlining the workflow.
  • Behavior-Driven UI: Create UIs that truly reflect user intent.
  • Future-Proofing: Stay ahead of the curve with AI-powered code generation.

⚠️ Warning: Replay is a powerful tool, but it's not a magic bullet. The quality of the generated code depends on the clarity and accuracy of the input video.

Example: Integrating with Supabase#

Let's say you want to store the to-do list items in a Supabase database. Here's how you can integrate the generated code with Supabase:

typescript
// App.tsx import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react'; import { View, Text, FlatList, StyleSheet } from 'react-native'; import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'; import AddTaskButton from './AddTaskButton'; // Assuming you have the generated AddTaskButton component const supabaseUrl = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_URL'; const supabaseKey = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY'; const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey); interface Task { id: number; title: string; completed: boolean; } const App: React.FC = () => { const [tasks, setTasks] = useState<Task[]>([]); useEffect(() => { fetchTasks(); }, []); const fetchTasks = async () => { const { data, error } = await supabase .from('tasks') .select('*') .order('id', { ascending: false }); if (error) { console.error('Error fetching tasks:', error); } else { setTasks(data || []); } }; const addTask = async () => { // Implement logic to add a new task to the database // For example, using a modal or input field const newTaskTitle = 'New Task'; // Replace with actual input const { data, error } = await supabase .from('tasks') .insert([{ title: newTaskTitle, completed: false }]) .select(); if (error) { console.error('Error adding task:', error); } else { fetchTasks(); // Refresh the task list } }; return ( <View style={styles.container}> <Text style={styles.title}>To-Do List</Text> <FlatList data={tasks} keyExtractor={(item) => item.id.toString()} renderItem={({ item }) => ( <View style={styles.taskItem}> <Text>{item.title}</Text> </View> )} /> <AddTaskButton onPress={addTask} /> </View> ); }; const styles = StyleSheet.create({ container: { flex: 1, padding: 20, backgroundColor: '#f0f0f0', }, title: { fontSize: 24, fontWeight: 'bold', marginBottom: 20, }, taskItem: { padding: 10, backgroundColor: 'white', marginBottom: 10, borderRadius: 5, }, }); export default App;

This example demonstrates how to fetch tasks from Supabase and display them in a FlatList. You can adapt this code to implement other functionalities, such as marking tasks as complete or deleting tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features and usage. Paid plans are available for users who require more advanced features and higher usage limits.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both Replay and v0.dev aim to simplify UI development, Replay distinguishes itself by using video as the input source and focusing on behavior-driven reconstruction. This allows Replay to understand user intent and generate more accurate and functional code compared to tools that rely on static screenshots or design files. Replay excels at capturing complex interactions and multi-page flows, which are often difficult to represent with traditional methods.

What types of applications can I build with Replay?#

Replay is suitable for building a wide range of applications, including mobile apps, web apps, and desktop apps. It is particularly well-suited for applications with complex user interfaces and dynamic behavior.

What if Replay doesn't generate the code exactly as I want it?#

Replay provides tools for reviewing and refining the generated code. You can make adjustments to the UI elements, interactions, and styling to ensure that the code meets your specific requirements. You can also provide feedback to the Replay team to help improve the accuracy and quality of future code generation.


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

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