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January 5, 20267 min readHow to convert

How to convert UI design to production Vue using Replay and GraphQL in 2026?

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay leverages video analysis and Gemini to generate production-ready Vue components with GraphQL integration directly from UI design recordings.

The old "screenshot-to-code" dream? It's dead. In 2026, we're operating at a different level. We're not just concerned with replicating static visuals; we need code that understands user flows and translates design intent into functioning applications. That's where Replay comes in.

Reconstructing UI with Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay is a video-to-code engine that uses Gemini to reconstruct working UI from screen recordings. Unlike existing tools that rely on static images, Replay analyzes video to understand user behavior and intent. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" approach uses video as the source of truth, leading to more robust and maintainable code.

Why Video Matters#

Static images only capture a single moment in time. They lack the crucial context of user interactions, animations, and transitions. By analyzing video, Replay can infer:

  • Click events and their corresponding actions
  • Data input and form submissions
  • Navigation patterns and page transitions
  • Dynamic content updates based on user input

This deeper understanding allows Replay to generate code that is not only visually accurate but also functionally complete.

From UI Recording to Production Vue: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through the process of converting a UI design recording into production-ready Vue components using Replay and GraphQL. Imagine you've recorded a user flow demonstrating a new product onboarding experience.

Step 1: Record the UI Flow#

The first step is to record a clear and comprehensive video of the UI flow you want to convert. This recording should showcase all the key interactions, animations, and data inputs.

💡 Pro Tip: Ensure the recording is high quality and free of distractions. Clearly demonstrate all possible user paths.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video recording to Replay. The engine will begin analyzing the video, identifying UI elements, user interactions, and data flows.

Step 3: Configure GraphQL Schema#

Replay needs to understand the data structure and available queries/mutations for your application. Provide Replay with your GraphQL schema. This allows Replay to automatically generate the necessary GraphQL queries and mutations within your Vue components.

graphql
type User { id: ID! name: String! email: String! } type Query { getUser(id: ID!): User } type Mutation { createUser(name: String!, email: String!): User }

Step 4: Generate Vue Components#

Once the analysis is complete and the GraphQL schema is provided, Replay will generate the Vue components. These components will include:

  • UI structure based on the video recording
  • Event handlers for user interactions
  • GraphQL queries and mutations for data fetching and updates
  • Basic styling mirroring the UI design
vue
<template> <div> <h1>{{ user.name }}</h1> <p>Email: {{ user.email }}</p> <button @click="updateUser">Update User</button> </div> </template> <script> import { useQuery, useMutation } from '@vue/apollo-composable'; import gql from 'graphql-tag'; export default { setup() { const { result, loading, error } = useQuery(gql` query GetUser { getUser(id: "123") { id name email } } `); const { mutate: updateUserMutation } = useMutation(gql` mutation UpdateUser($id: ID!, $name: String!) { updateUser(id: $id, name: $name) { id name email } } `); const updateUser = async () => { await updateUserMutation({ id: "123", name: "New Name" }); }; return { user: result, loading, error, updateUser }; } }; </script>

📝 Note: Replay uses best practices for Vue component structure, including the Composition API and GraphQL integration via libraries like

text
@vue/apollo-composable
.

Step 5: Integrate and Customize#

The generated Vue components are a starting point. You'll likely need to integrate them into your existing application and customize them to meet your specific requirements. This may involve:

  • Connecting the components to your backend API
  • Adding more sophisticated styling and animations
  • Implementing custom logic and validation

Replay Features: Beyond Basic Code Generation#

Replay offers several key features that set it apart from traditional code generation tools:

  • Multi-page Generation: Replay can generate code for entire multi-page applications, capturing complex user flows.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamless integration with Supabase for backend services, including authentication, database, and storage.
  • Style Injection: Replay can infer styling from the video recording and inject it into the generated components.
  • Product Flow Maps: Replay generates visual flow maps of the user interactions, providing a clear overview of the application's structure.

Addressing Common Concerns#

Code Quality and Maintainability#

One common concern is the quality and maintainability of the generated code. Replay addresses this by:

  • Using clean and consistent coding conventions
  • Generating well-structured components with clear separation of concerns
  • Providing options for customization and refactoring

⚠️ Warning: While Replay generates high-quality code, it's essential to review and refactor the code to ensure it meets your specific needs and coding standards.

Accuracy and Fidelity#

Another concern is the accuracy and fidelity of the generated UI. Replay strives to replicate the UI as closely as possible, but some manual adjustments may be necessary. Factors that can affect accuracy include:

  • Video quality and resolution
  • Complexity of the UI design
  • Availability of design assets

Replay vs. Traditional Methods#

Let's compare Replay to traditional UI development methods and other code generation tools.

FeatureManual CodingScreenshot-to-CodeLow-Code PlatformsReplay
Development SpeedSlowModerateModerateFast
Code QualityHigh (dependent on developer)LowModerateHigh
CustomizationHighLowModerateHigh
Learning CurveHighLowModerateLow
Video Input
Behavior AnalysisPartial
GraphQL IntegrationManualLimitedPartialAutomated
Understanding User IntentPartial
ScalabilityHighLowModerateHigh
CostHighLowModerateModerate

The Future of UI Development#

Replay represents a significant step forward in UI development. By leveraging video analysis and AI, Replay empowers developers to:

  • Accelerate the development process
  • Improve code quality and maintainability
  • Focus on higher-level design and functionality

The future of UI development is about automating repetitive tasks and empowering developers to create more engaging and user-friendly experiences. Replay is at the forefront of this revolution.

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 Replay pricing page for the latest details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to accelerate UI development, Replay distinguishes itself by using video input for Behavior-Driven Reconstruction. v0.dev primarily relies on text prompts and AI to generate UI components, while Replay analyzes real user interactions to create more accurate and functional code. Replay also offers deeper GraphQL integration and product flow mapping.

What types of video formats does Replay support?#

Replay supports common video formats such as MP4, MOV, and AVI.

What are the system requirements for running Replay-generated Vue applications?#

Replay generates standard Vue components that can be run on any system that supports Vue.js. The specific system requirements will depend on the complexity of the application and the libraries used.


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

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