How to Convert UI Prototype Video into an Electron App with Automatic Updates Using Replay

TL;DR: Learn how to quickly generate a fully functional Electron application, complete with automatic updates, directly from a UI prototype video using Replay.

From Video to Electron App: A Revolution in UI Development#

Building desktop applications traditionally involves a steep learning curve, complex tooling, and significant development time. Converting a UI prototype video into a functional Electron app used to be a pipe dream. Now, with advancements in AI-powered code generation, it's a reality. This guide demonstrates how to leverage Replay to transform a video of your UI prototype into a working Electron application with automatic updates, drastically accelerating your development cycle.

The Problem: Bridging the Gap Between Prototype and Production#

Designers often create impressive UI prototypes using tools like Figma, Sketch, or even simple video recordings. However, translating these prototypes into functional code is a time-consuming process, fraught with potential for misinterpretation and errors. Existing screenshot-to-code tools offer a partial solution, but they lack the contextual understanding of user behavior and intent.

The Solution: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction with Replay#

Replay offers a paradigm shift by analyzing video recordings of UI prototypes. It doesn't just capture static images; it understands the flow of the application, the interactions between elements, and the intended behavior of the user. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" allows Replay to generate more accurate, functional, and maintainable code.

Generating Your Electron App with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

This tutorial outlines how to convert a UI prototype video into a functional Electron application with automatic updates. We'll cover the key steps, from preparing your video to deploying your application.

Step 1: Preparing Your UI Prototype Video#

The quality of your video directly impacts the accuracy of the generated code. Follow these guidelines:

• •Clear Visuals: Ensure the video is well-lit and the UI elements are clearly visible.
• •Smooth Transitions: Avoid abrupt cuts or jerky movements.
• •Realistic Interactions: Demonstrate typical user interactions, such as clicking buttons, filling forms, and navigating between pages.
• •Complete Flows: Record entire user flows from start to finish.

💡 Pro Tip: Narrate your actions while recording the video. This provides valuable context for Replay's AI engine.

Step 2: Uploading and Processing Your Video with Replay#

1. •Navigate to the Replay platform (https://replay.build).
2. •Create an account or log in.
3. •Upload your UI prototype video.
4. •Replay will automatically analyze the video and reconstruct the UI. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of the video.

📝 Note: Replay supports various video formats, including MP4, MOV, and AVI.

Step 3: Reviewing and Refining the Generated Code#

Once Replay has finished processing the video, you'll be presented with a code preview. Carefully review the generated code and make any necessary adjustments.

• •Verify Functionality: Ensure that all UI elements are functioning as intended.
• •Check Styles: Confirm that the styles are consistent with your prototype.
• •Inspect the Code Structure: Review the generated code for clarity and maintainability.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay strives for accuracy, manual review is crucial to ensure the quality and correctness of the generated code.

Step 4: Integrating with Supabase (Optional)#

If your UI prototype involves data storage or authentication, Replay can automatically integrate with Supabase.

1. •Provide your Supabase API URL and API key.
2. •Replay will generate the necessary code to interact with your Supabase database.

typescript
// Example of Supabase integration generated by Replay
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

const supabaseUrl = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_URL';
const supabaseKey = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_KEY';
const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey);

const fetchData = async () => {
  const { data, error } = await supabase
    .from('your_table')
    .select('*');

  if (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
    return [];
  }

  return data;
};

Step 5: Setting Up Your Electron Application#

Replay will provide you with a download package containing the generated code. This package typically includes:

• •
  text

  package.json
  : Defines the project dependencies and scripts.
• •
  text

  main.js
  : The main process file for your Electron application.
• •
  text

  index.html
  : The main HTML file for your UI.
• •
  text

  renderer.js
  : The renderer process file for handling UI logic.
• •
  text

  styles.css
  : The CSS file for styling your application.

1. •Create a new directory for your Electron application.
2. •Extract the contents of the Replay-generated package into this directory.
3. •Open a terminal in the directory and run
   text

   npm install
   to install the dependencies.

Step 6: Implementing Automatic Updates with Electron-Updater#

To ensure your users always have the latest version of your application, you can integrate automatic updates using the

library.

1. •Install
   text

   electron-updater
   :

bash
npm install electron-updater --save

1. •Modify your
   text

   main.js
   file to include the following code:

typescript
// main.js
const { app, BrowserWindow, ipcMain } = require('electron');
const { autoUpdater } = require('electron-updater');

let mainWindow;

function createWindow() {
  mainWindow = new BrowserWindow({
    width: 800,
    height: 600,
    webPreferences: {
      nodeIntegration: true,
      contextIsolation: false,
    },
  });

  mainWindow.loadFile('index.html');

  mainWindow.on('closed', () => {
    mainWindow = null;
  });
}

app.on('ready', () => {
  createWindow();

  autoUpdater.checkForUpdatesAndNotify();
});

app.on('window-all-closed', () => {
  if (process.platform !== 'darwin') {
    app.quit();
  }
});

app.on('activate', () => {
  if (mainWindow === null) {
    createWindow();
  }
});

autoUpdater.on('update-available', () => {
  mainWindow.webContents.send('update_available');
});

autoUpdater.on('update-downloaded', () => {
  mainWindow.webContents.send('update_downloaded');
});

ipcMain.on('restart_app', () => {
  autoUpdater.quitAndInstall();
});

1. •In your
   text

   renderer.js
   file, add the following code to handle update notifications:

typescript
// renderer.js
const { ipcRenderer } = require('electron');

ipcRenderer.on('update_available', () => {
  alert('A new update is available. Downloading now...');
});

ipcRenderer.on('update_downloaded', () => {
  const restart = confirm('Update downloaded. Restart now?');
  if (restart) {
    ipcRenderer.send('restart_app');
  }
});

1. •Configure your build process to include the necessary files for automatic updates. Refer to the
   text

   electron-updater
   documentation for detailed instructions.

Step 7: Building and Distributing Your Electron App#

Use a tool like

to package your application for distribution.

1. •Install
   text

   electron-builder
   :

bash
npm install electron-builder --save-dev

1. •Add a build script to your
   text

   package.json
   file:

json
{
  "scripts": {
    "build": "electron-builder"
  },
  "build": {
    "appId": "com.example.myapp",
    "productName": "MyApp",
    "directories": {
      "output": "dist"
    },
    "files": [
      "**/*"
    ],
    "dmg": {
      "contents": [
        {
          "x": 110,
          "y": 150
        },
        {
          "x": 240,
          "y": 150,
          "type": "link",
          "path": "/Applications"
        }
      ]
    },
    "win": {
      "target": "nsis",
      "icon": "path/to/your/icon.ico"
    },
    "linux": {
      "target": [
        "AppImage",
        "deb"
      ]
    }
  }
}

1. •Run the build script:

bash
npm run build

This will create distributable packages for your application in the

directory.

Benefits of Using Replay for Electron App Development#

• •Speed: Drastically reduce development time by automatically generating code from UI prototype videos.
• •Accuracy: Leverage Behavior-Driven Reconstruction for more accurate and functional code.
• •Efficiency: Streamline the development process and focus on refining the user experience.
• •Accessibility: Democratize app development by making it easier for designers and non-technical users to contribute.

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 usage. Check the Replay website for the most up-to-date pricing information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both Replay and v0.dev aim to accelerate UI development, they differ significantly in their approach. V0.dev primarily uses text prompts to generate UI components, while Replay analyzes video recordings to understand user behavior and reconstruct entire application flows. Replay focuses on translating existing prototypes into functional code, while v0.dev emphasizes generating new UI elements from scratch.

What kind of UI prototypes work best with Replay?#

Replay works best with videos that clearly demonstrate the intended user flows and interactions within the application. The video should be well-lit, stable, and feature realistic user interactions.

Does Replay support all UI frameworks?#

Replay is designed to be framework-agnostic and supports a wide range of UI frameworks, including React, Vue.js, and Angular. The generated code can be easily adapted to your preferred framework.

How secure is Replay?#

Replay employs industry-standard security measures to protect your data. All video uploads and code generation processes are encrypted and stored securely.

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