How to Convert Video of Web App into a Serverless React App with AWS Amplify and SWR

TL;DR: Replay leverages video analysis and Gemini to generate a fully functional, serverless React application backed by AWS Amplify and SWR, directly from screen recordings of user interaction.

The promise of AI-powered code generation is finally being realized, but many tools fall short. They rely on static screenshots, missing the crucial context of user behavior. What if you could take a simple video of a web app in action and transform it into a working, serverless React application? That's the power of behavior-driven reconstruction.

From Video to Code: A Revolution in Web Development#

Traditional approaches to UI generation are limited. Screenshot-to-code tools can generate basic HTML and CSS, but they lack the intelligence to understand the underlying logic and user flow. This is where Replay comes in. By analyzing video of user interactions, Replay understands the intent behind each click, scroll, and form submission.

Building a Serverless React App from Video with Replay, Amplify, and SWR#

Let's dive into a practical example: converting a video of a simple to-do list application into a serverless React app using AWS Amplify and SWR for data fetching.

Step 1: Recording the Video#

The first step is to record a video of you interacting with the target web application. This video should clearly demonstrate the desired functionality, including:

• •Adding new to-do items
• •Marking items as complete
• •Deleting items
• •Navigating between different views (if applicable)

💡 Pro Tip: Ensure the video is clear and well-lit. Speak clearly and concisely while demonstrating the app's features. This helps Replay accurately interpret your actions.

Step 2: Uploading to Replay#

Upload the video to Replay. The platform will process the video, analyze user behavior, and generate the corresponding React codebase. Replay's AI engine, powered by Gemini, identifies UI elements, understands interactions, and infers the underlying data model.

Step 3: Amplify Setup#

Before deploying the generated code, you'll need to set up an AWS Amplify project.

1. •Install the Amplify CLI:

bash
npm install -g @aws-amplify/cli

1. •Configure Amplify:

bash
amplify configure

This will guide you through setting up your AWS credentials and region.

1. •Initialize Amplify in your project directory:

bash
amplify init

Follow the prompts to configure your project name, environment, and editor.

Step 4: Integrating Replay's Generated Code#

Replay generates a React codebase that includes components, hooks, and API definitions. It's designed to be easily integrated with serverless backends.

1. •

   Copy the Generated Code: Download the generated code from Replay and place it in your Amplify project directory (e.g.,

   text

   src/components
   ).

2. •

   Configure API Endpoints: Replay provides API endpoint definitions that you'll need to configure in Amplify. For example, if Replay generated an API endpoint for creating a to-do item, you'll need to define this endpoint in your Amplify project.

bash
amplify add api

Choose "GraphQL" as the API type and follow the prompts to define your data model (schema.graphql).

1. •Push the API to AWS:

bash
amplify push

This will create the necessary AWS resources (e.g., AppSync API, DynamoDB tables) based on your schema.

Step 5: Implementing SWR for Data Fetching#

Replay can generate code that utilizes SWR (Stale-While-Revalidate) for efficient data fetching. SWR automatically caches data and provides a fast, responsive user experience.

Here's an example of how to use SWR in a React component generated by Replay:

typescript
import useSWR from 'swr';

const fetcher = (url: string) => fetch(url).then(res => res.json());

const TodoList = () => {
  const { data, error } = useSWR('/api/todos', fetcher);

  if (error) return <div>Failed to load todos</div>;
  if (!data) return <div>Loading...</div>;

  return (
    <ul>
      {data.map((todo: { id: string; text: string; completed: boolean }) => (
        <li key={todo.id}>
          {todo.text} - {todo.completed ? 'Completed' : 'Pending'}
        </li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
};

export default TodoList;

In this example:

• •
  text

  useSWR('/api/todos', fetcher)
  fetches the to-do list data from the
  text

  /api/todos
  endpoint.
• •
  text

  fetcher
  is a simple function that fetches the data and parses it as JSON.
• •SWR automatically caches the data and revalidates it in the background, ensuring that the UI is always up-to-date.

📝 Note: The

text

/api/todos

endpoint needs to be configured within your Amplify API. This usually involves creating a Lambda function that interacts with your DynamoDB table to retrieve the to-do items.

Step 6: Deploying the Application#

Finally, deploy your application to AWS using Amplify:

bash
amplify publish

This will build and deploy your React application to AWS Amplify Hosting.

Replay's Key Advantages#

• •Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: Understands user intent from video, resulting in more accurate and functional code.
• •Multi-Page Generation: Handles complex applications with multiple pages and navigation flows.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Supabase for database and authentication.
• •Style Injection: Replicates the visual style of the original application.
• •Product Flow Maps: Generates visual representations of user flows for improved understanding and optimization.

The Power of Video Analysis#

The key difference between Replay and other code generation tools is its ability to analyze video. This allows Replay to understand:

• •User Interactions: Clicks, scrolls, form submissions, and other user actions.
• •Data Flow: How data is entered, processed, and displayed.
• •Application Logic: The underlying logic that governs the application's behavior.

This deep understanding of user behavior results in more accurate, functional, and maintainable code.

⚠️ Warning: Replay is most effective when the video clearly demonstrates the desired functionality. Avoid unnecessary distractions or interruptions during the recording.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits. Check the Replay website for current pricing details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both Replay and v0.dev aim to generate code, they differ significantly in their approach. v0.dev primarily relies on text prompts and component libraries to generate UI components. Replay, on the other hand, analyzes video of existing applications to understand user behavior and reconstruct the entire application, including backend integration. Replay focuses on replicating existing functionality, while v0.dev focuses on generating new UIs based on descriptions.

What kind of applications work best with Replay?#

Replay works best with web applications that have a clear user interface and well-defined user flows. Examples include to-do list applications, e-commerce sites, dashboards, and content management systems.

Can I customize the generated code?#

Yes, the generated code is fully customizable. You can modify the components, hooks, and API definitions to meet your specific requirements. Replay provides a solid foundation, but you have complete control over the final product.

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