How to Convert Video into a Shadcn/UI react app using Replay AI

TL;DR: Replay leverages video analysis and Gemini to generate fully functional Shadcn/UI React applications directly from screen recordings, enabling rapid prototyping and UI reconstruction.

From Screen Recording to Shadcn/UI: A Revolutionary Workflow#

The traditional method of building user interfaces is often tedious: designing mockups, writing code, and iterating based on feedback. What if you could skip the mockup phase and generate production-ready code directly from a screen recording of your desired UI flow? Replay makes this a reality. By analyzing video, not just static screenshots, Replay understands user behavior and reconstructs the UI with working components, styles, and even backend integrations. This tutorial will guide you through using Replay to generate a Shadcn/UI React application from a video.

The Problem with Screenshot-to-Code#

Screenshot-to-code tools offer a seemingly quick solution, but they fall short in several key areas. They treat UI as a static image, missing crucial context about user interaction and application flow. This leads to incomplete or inaccurate code generation, requiring significant manual rework.

Replay overcomes these limitations by using "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction." It analyzes the entire video, understanding user clicks, form submissions, and page transitions. This enables Replay to generate a more accurate and functional codebase, especially when combined with component libraries like Shadcn/UI.

Setting Up Your Environment#

Before diving into Replay, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

1. •Node.js and npm (or yarn/pnpm): Required for running React applications.
2. •A Replay Account: Sign up for free at Replay.
3. •A Screen Recording: Prepare a video recording showcasing the UI flow you want to convert into a Shadcn/UI React app.

Generating Your Shadcn/UI App with Replay#

Step 1: Upload Your Video to Replay#

Navigate to the Replay dashboard and upload your screen recording. Replay supports various video formats, including MP4, MOV, and WebM.

Step 2: Configure Replay's Settings#

After uploading, you'll be presented with configuration options. Crucially, select "Shadcn/UI" as your preferred component library. This tells Replay to prioritize Shadcn/UI components during the reconstruction process. You can also configure:

• •Target Framework: React (Next.js is also supported)
• •State Management: Choose your preferred state management solution (e.g., Zustand, Redux) or opt for no state management.
• •Supabase Integration: If your video demonstrates interaction with a Supabase backend, configure your Supabase credentials for automatic integration.

💡 Pro Tip: Ensure your video clearly demonstrates the intended UI flow. Speak clearly and deliberately while interacting with the UI elements. This helps Replay accurately interpret your actions.

Step 3: Let Replay Work Its Magic#

Click "Generate Code" and let Replay analyze your video. This process can take a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of the recording. Replay uses Gemini to intelligently identify UI elements, user interactions, and overall application flow.

Step 4: Review and Refine the Generated Code#

Once the code generation is complete, Replay presents you with a preview of the generated React application. You can browse the codebase, inspect individual components, and even run the application in a sandboxed environment.

📝 Note: While Replay strives for 100% accuracy, some manual refinement may be necessary. Pay close attention to:

• •Component Styling: Verify that the generated Shadcn/UI components are styled correctly.
• •Event Handlers: Ensure that event handlers (e.g.,
  text

  onClick
  ,
  text

  onSubmit
  ) are wired up correctly.
• •Data Fetching: Double-check any data fetching logic, especially if you're using Supabase integration.

Step 5: Download and Deploy Your App#

Once you're satisfied with the generated code, download the project as a ZIP file. Extract the contents and navigate to the project directory in your terminal.

Install dependencies:

bash
npm install
# or
yarn install
# or
pnpm install

Run the development server:

bash
npm run dev
# or
yarn dev
# or
pnpm dev

Your Shadcn/UI React application, generated from a video, should now be running in your browser!

Leveraging Replay's Advanced Features#

Multi-Page Generation#

Replay excels at generating multi-page applications. Simply record a video showcasing the navigation flow between different pages, and Replay will automatically create the corresponding React routes and components.

Supabase Integration#

If your video demonstrates interaction with a Supabase backend (e.g., fetching data, submitting forms), Replay can automatically generate the necessary API calls and data bindings.

⚠️ Warning: Always review the generated Supabase code to ensure it aligns with your security best practices. Avoid exposing sensitive API keys or database credentials in your client-side code.

Here's an example of a generated data fetching function using Supabase:

typescript
// Generated by Replay
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

const supabaseUrl = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_URL;
const supabaseAnonKey = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY;

const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl!, supabaseAnonKey!);

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

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

  return data;
};

Style Injection#

Replay understands the importance of styling. It automatically injects CSS styles based on the visual appearance of the UI in your video. While Shadcn/UI provides a solid foundation, Replay can further customize the styling to match your exact design.

Benefits of Using Replay#

• •Rapid Prototyping: Quickly generate working prototypes from screen recordings.
• •Accelerated Development: Reduce development time by automating UI reconstruction.
• •Improved Collaboration: Share screen recordings with developers to easily communicate UI requirements.
• •Simplified UI Migration: Migrate existing UI designs to React and Shadcn/UI with minimal effort.
• •Behavior-Driven Development: Ensure your UI aligns with user behavior by using video as the source of truth.

Real-World Use Cases#

• •Reconstructing Legacy UIs: Convert screen recordings of outdated applications into modern React and Shadcn/UI components.
• •Building Prototypes from Mockups: Quickly generate functional prototypes from video recordings of design mockups.
• •Creating Tutorials and Demos: Record a video of yourself using an application and let Replay generate the code for interactive tutorials.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans are available for increased usage and access to advanced features. Check out the Replay pricing page for more details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to accelerate UI development, Replay distinguishes itself by using video as its primary input. Unlike v0.dev, which relies on text prompts or design files, Replay analyzes actual user behavior captured in video recordings. This enables Replay to generate more accurate and functional code, especially for complex UI flows.

What if Replay doesn't perfectly generate my code?#

Replay is constantly improving, but manual refinement may sometimes be necessary. The generated code provides a strong foundation, significantly reducing the overall development effort. The more clearly you demonstrate the UI flow in your video, the more accurate the generated code will be.

What types of applications can I build with Replay?#

Replay can be used to build a wide range of applications, from simple landing pages to complex web applications. The key is to provide a clear and comprehensive video recording of the desired UI flow.

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