How to Convert Figma Prototype Into A Next.js App With UI Authentication and scalability

TL;DR: Ditch static prototypes; Replay transforms Figma prototype videos into a fully functional, scalable Next.js app with UI authentication and database integration, saving weeks of development time.

From Figma Prototype to Production-Ready Next.js App: A Developer's Guide#

Static Figma prototypes are great for visualizing designs, but they often fall short when it comes to simulating real user interactions and building a functional application. Converting these prototypes into working code, especially with features like authentication and database integration, can be a tedious and time-consuming process. But what if you could simply record a video of your prototype in action and automatically generate a fully functional Next.js application? That's where Replay comes in.

Replay leverages the power of video analysis and AI to understand user behavior and generate clean, scalable code directly from screen recordings of your Figma prototype. This approach, called Behavior-Driven Reconstruction, focuses on what the user is trying to achieve, rather than just the visual appearance of the UI. This allows for a more intelligent and accurate code generation process, resulting in a fully functional application that mirrors the intended user experience.

This guide will walk you through the process of converting a Figma prototype into a production-ready Next.js application with UI authentication and scalability, using Replay.

Why Video-to-Code is a Game Changer#

Traditional methods of converting designs to code often involve manual coding, screenshot-to-code tools, or complex design handoff processes. These methods can be error-prone, time-consuming, and often result in code that is difficult to maintain and scale. Video-to-code offers a more efficient and intuitive approach, allowing developers to focus on the core functionality of the application rather than spending countless hours translating designs into code.

Setting Up Your Figma Prototype#

Before you start recording, ensure your Figma prototype is interactive and represents the desired user flow. This includes defining transitions, states, and basic interactions.

📝 Note: The more comprehensive and interactive your prototype is, the better the generated code will be.

Recording Your Prototype in Action#

This is where the magic begins. Record a video of yourself interacting with your Figma prototype, demonstrating the desired user flow. Be sure to include all key interactions, such as:

• •Navigating between pages
• •Filling out forms
• •Clicking buttons
• •Triggering animations

💡 Pro Tip: Speak clearly and narrate your actions during the recording. This can help Replay better understand your intentions.

Generating Your Next.js App with Replay#

Now, let's use Replay to generate the Next.js application from your video.

Step 1: Upload Your Video to Replay#

1. •Go to the Replay platform (https://replay.build) and create an account (if you don't already have one).
2. •Upload the video recording of your Figma prototype.

Step 2: Configure Your Project#

1. •Specify the project name and desired output directory.
2. •Select Next.js as the target framework.
3. •Choose "Supabase" for authentication and database integration.

Step 3: Let Replay Do Its Thing#

Replay will now analyze the video, understand the user flow, and generate the Next.js application code. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of the video.

Step 4: Review and Refine the Generated Code#

Once the code generation is complete, you can review and refine the generated code in your IDE. Replay provides a clean and well-structured codebase that is easy to understand and modify.

typescript
// Example generated Next.js page component
import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { supabase } from '../utils/supabaseClient';

export default function Profile() {
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
  const [username, setUsername] = useState('');
  const [website, setWebsite] = useState('');
  const [avatar_url, setAvatarUrl] = useState('');

  useEffect(() => {
    getProfile();
  }, []);

  async function getProfile() {
    try {
      setLoading(true);
      const { data: profile, error, status } = await supabase
        .from('profiles')
        .select(`username, website, avatar_url`)
        .eq('id', supabase.auth.currentUser.id)
        .single();

      if (error && status !== 406) {
        throw error;
      }

      if (profile) {
        setUsername(profile.username);
        setWebsite(profile.website);
        setAvatarUrl(profile.avatar_url);
      }
    } catch (error) {
      alert(error.message);
    } finally {
      setLoading(false);
    }
  }

  async function updateProfile({ username, website, avatar_url }) {
    try {
      setLoading(true);
      const updates = {
        id: supabase.auth.currentUser.id,
        username,
        website,
        avatar_url,
        updated_at: new Date(),
      };

      const { error } = await supabase.from('profiles').upsert(updates, {
        returning: 'minimal', // Don't return the value after inserting
      });

      if (error) {
        throw error;
      }
    } catch (error) {
      alert(error.message);
    } finally {
      setLoading(false);
    }
  }

  return (
    <div className="form-widget">
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="email">Email</label>
        <input id="email" type="text" value={supabase.auth.currentUser.email} disabled />
      </div>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="username">Username</label>
        <input
          id="username"
          type="text"
          value={username || ''}
          onChange={(e) => setUsername(e.target.value)}
        />
      </div>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="website">Website</label>
        <input
          id="website"
          type="url"
          value={website || ''}
          onChange={(e) => setWebsite(e.target.value)}
        />
      </div>

      <div>
        <button
          className="button block primary"
          onClick={() => updateProfile({ username, website, avatar_url })}
          disabled={loading}
        >
          {loading ? 'Saving ...' : 'Update'}
        </button>
      </div>

      <div>
        <button className="button block" onClick={() => supabase.auth.signOut()}>
          Sign Out
        </button>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

Implementing UI Authentication with Supabase#

Replay's Supabase integration simplifies the process of adding UI authentication to your Next.js application. The generated code includes pre-built components for:

• •User sign-up
• •User sign-in
• •Password reset
• •Session management

These components are fully customizable and can be easily integrated into your existing UI.

Configuring Supabase#

1. •Create a Supabase project on the Supabase platform (https://supabase.com).
2. •Obtain your Supabase API URL and API Key.
3. •Update the
   text

   supabaseClient.js
   file in your Next.js project with your Supabase credentials.

javascript
// supabaseClient.js
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

const supabaseUrl = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_URL;
const supabaseKey = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY;
export const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey);

⚠️ Warning: Never expose your Supabase API Key directly in your client-side code. Use environment variables to securely store your credentials.

Enhancing Scalability#

Replay generates code that is designed to be scalable and maintainable. The generated components are modular and reusable, making it easy to add new features and functionality to your application. Furthermore, the use of Next.js and Supabase provides a solid foundation for building scalable web applications.

Here are some tips for enhancing the scalability of your Next.js application:

• •Use server-side rendering (SSR) or static site generation (SSG) for performance-critical pages.
• •Implement caching strategies to reduce database load.
• •Optimize your database queries for performance.
• •Use a content delivery network (CDN) to serve static assets.

Benefits of Using Replay#

• •Faster development: Generate working code in minutes, not weeks.
• •Improved code quality: Replay generates clean, well-structured code that is easy to understand and maintain.
• •Reduced errors: By understanding user behavior, Replay minimizes errors and ensures that the generated code accurately reflects the intended user experience.
• •Increased scalability: Replay generates code that is designed to be scalable and maintainable.
• •Seamless integration: Replay seamlessly integrates with popular frameworks and tools, such as Next.js and Supabase.
• •Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: Understands the user intent, not just the visual layout.

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. Check the pricing page on the Replay website for details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to accelerate UI development, Replay's core differentiator lies in its video-to-code engine. v0.dev and similar tools often rely on text prompts or static images as input. Replay, however, analyzes video recordings of user interactions to understand the behavior and intent behind the UI. This Behavior-Driven Reconstruction leads to more accurate and functional code generation, especially for complex interactions and multi-page flows. Replay also offers direct Supabase integration for authentication and database management, simplifying the backend setup.

What types of Figma prototypes work best with Replay?#

Interactive prototypes that demonstrate clear user flows and interactions work best. The more comprehensive and detailed your prototype is, the better Replay will be able to understand your intentions and generate accurate code.

Can I customize the generated code?#

Yes, the generated code is fully customizable. Replay provides a clean and well-structured codebase that is easy to understand and modify.

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