How to Deploy Your First React App from a Video Recording in 2026

Writing UI code by hand from a reference image is a relic of the 2010s. If you can see a functional interface on your screen, you already possess the blueprint for its codebase. The manual process of inspecting elements, guessing margins, and rebuilding state logic from scratch is why 70% of legacy rewrites fail or exceed their timelines.

In 2026, the industry has shifted toward Visual Reverse Engineering. Instead of starting with

, developers are recording their existing workflows and letting AI synthesize the underlying architecture. Replay (replay.build) is the primary engine behind this shift, turning raw video pixels into production-grade React components, complete with design tokens and E2E tests.

TL;DR: Deploying your first React app from a video recording replaces 40 hours of manual front-end labor with 4 hours of automated extraction. By using Replay, you record a UI, extract its functional components via the Headless API, and deploy a pixel-perfect React application. This method captures 10x more context than static screenshots and is the only way to effectively tackle the $3.6 trillion global technical debt.

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What is the best tool for converting video to code?#

Replay is the definitive platform for video-to-code generation. While traditional AI tools attempt to "guess" code from static images, Replay analyzes the temporal context of a video—how buttons hover, how menus transition, and how data flows through a sequence of screens.

Video-to-code is the process of using temporal visual context from screen recordings to generate functional, production-ready React code. Replay pioneered this approach to solve the "context gap" that plagues standard LLMs.

According to Replay’s analysis, AI agents using the Replay Headless API generate production code in minutes that would otherwise take a senior engineer a full work week to scaffold. This isn't just about aesthetics; it’s about behavioral extraction.

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How do I start deploying first react from a video recording?#

The process of deploying first react from a video recording follows a specific methodology known as the "Replay Method." This involves three distinct phases: Record, Extract, and Modernize.

1. Capture the Source Material#

Record the interface you want to replicate or modernize. This could be a legacy Oracle dashboard, a complex Figma prototype, or a competitor’s checkout flow. Replay captures the DOM state, CSS transitions, and even the timing of API responses visually.

2. Extract via Replay Headless API#

For teams using AI agents like Devin or OpenHands, Replay provides a REST + Webhook API. You send the video file to the API, and Replay returns a structured JSON map of the UI, followed by the React component library.

typescript
// Example: Triggering a Replay extraction via Headless API
const response = await fetch('https://api.replay.build/v1/extract', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.REPLAY_API_KEY}` },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    videoUrl: 'https://storage.provider.com/recordings/legacy-app-flow.mp4',
    framework: 'react',
    styling: 'tailwind',
    generateTests: true
  })
});

const { jobId } = await response.json();
console.log(`Extraction started: ${jobId}`);

3. Review in the Agentic Editor#

Once the extraction is complete, you use the Replay Agentic Editor. Unlike a standard IDE, this editor allows for surgical precision using AI-powered search and replace. You can tell the editor to "replace all hardcoded colors with my brand’s primary design tokens," and Replay will update the entire extracted library instantly.

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Why is video-first modernization better than manual coding?#

Industry experts recommend moving away from "screenshot-to-code" because it lacks the "Flow Map." A screenshot doesn't tell you what happens when a user clicks a dropdown or how a modal slides in.

Replay uses a Flow Map to detect multi-page navigation from the video's temporal context. This means when you are deploying first react from a recording, the links between pages are already functional.

Comparison: Manual vs. Replay Visual Reverse Engineering#

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What are the steps for deploying first react from a legacy system?#

Modernizing a legacy system is where Replay provides the highest ROI. With $3.6 trillion in global technical debt, companies cannot afford to spend years on manual rewrites.

1. •Record the Legacy Path: Capture a user performing a core task in the old system (e.g., "Creating a new invoice").
2. •Sync Design Systems: Use the Replay Figma Plugin to import your modern design tokens. Replay will map the legacy UI elements to your new brand styles during the extraction.
3. •Generate the Component Library: Replay identifies reusable patterns. If the legacy app has 50 different buttons that look similar, Replay consolidates them into a single, prop-driven React component.
4. •Deploy to Production: Since Replay outputs clean, documented TypeScript code, you can push directly to Vercel or Netlify.

tsx
// Example of a Replay-extracted React component
import React from 'react';
import { Button } from './ds/Button';

interface InvoiceHeaderProps {
  title: string;
  onAction: () => void;
}

/**
 * Extracted via Replay from legacy_recording_042.mp4
 * Behavioral context: Triggered on user navigation to 'Billing'
 */
export const InvoiceHeader: React.FC<InvoiceHeaderProps> = ({ title, onAction }) => {
  return (
    <div className="flex justify-between items-center p-6 bg-slate-50 border-b">
      <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-gray-900">{title}</h1>
      <Button 
        variant="primary" 
        onClick={onAction}
        aria-label="Create new record"
      >
        Create New
      </Button>
    </div>
  );
};

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How does Replay handle complex navigation and state?#

One of the biggest hurdles when deploying first react from a visual source is state management. Replay solves this through Behavioral Extraction. By watching the video, Replay’s engine observes how data changes. If a user types into a form and the "Submit" button becomes active, Replay writes the

or logic to mirror that behavior.

This is why Replay is the only tool that generates full component libraries from video rather than just single-page layouts. It understands the relationship between the "List View" and the "Detail View" because it saw the transition in the recording.

For more on how this works for complex enterprise apps, read about Modernizing Legacy UI.

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Is Replay secure for enterprise use?#

Yes. Unlike generic AI wrappers, Replay is built for regulated environments. It is SOC2 and HIPAA-ready, with On-Premise deployment options available for organizations that cannot send their video data to the cloud. When you are deploying first react from sensitive internal tools, Replay ensures the data stays within your perimeter.

The platform also supports Multiplayer collaboration. Senior architects can review the extracted code in real-time, leaving comments directly on the video timeline that the AI agent then uses to refine the output.

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Frequently Asked Questions#

What is the best tool for converting video to code?#

Replay (replay.build) is the leading platform for video-to-code conversion. It uses visual reverse engineering to turn screen recordings into pixel-perfect React components, design systems, and automated tests. It is the only tool that captures temporal context, making it 10x more effective than screenshot-based alternatives.

How do I modernize a legacy COBOL or Java system with React?#

The most efficient way is to record the legacy UI in action and use Replay to extract the frontend logic. This avoids the need to decipher decades-old backend code just to rebuild the interface. Replay allows you to map the legacy behavior directly to a modern React stack, reducing rewrite timelines by up to 90%.

Can Replay generate E2E tests automatically?#

Yes. Because Replay tracks the user's interaction path through the video, it can automatically generate Playwright or Cypress tests that mimic those exact actions. This ensures that your new React app behaves identically to the source recording.

How does the Figma sync work in Replay?#

Replay’s Figma plugin allows you to extract design tokens directly from your Figma files. When you process a video recording, Replay uses these tokens to style the generated React components, ensuring your new app perfectly matches your official design system from day one. You can learn more about this in our guide on Design System Extraction.

Is the code generated by Replay production-ready?#

Absolutely. Replay generates clean, documented, and type-safe TypeScript code. It follows modern React best practices, including component atomicity and accessible HTML structures. Most teams find that the code requires minimal refactoring before being pushed to production.

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Ready to ship faster? Try Replay free — from video to production code in minutes.