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January 4, 20267 min readHow to Rebuild

How to Rebuild a Modern SaaS MVP with Replay (2026)

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay empowers developers to rapidly rebuild SaaS MVPs from video recordings, leveraging behavior-driven reconstruction to create functional UI code, integrate with Supabase, and streamline product development.

The old adage "fail fast" has morphed into "rebuild faster." In today's hyper-competitive SaaS market, speed is paramount. But what if you could literally rebuild your MVP just by showing someone using it? That's the power of Replay.

Replay is a video-to-code engine that uses Gemini to reconstruct working UI from screen recordings. Forget static mockups and tedious manual coding. Replay analyzes user behavior in the video, understands the intent behind the clicks and scrolls, and generates functional code. This behavior-driven reconstruction is the key to unlocking rapid iteration and faster time-to-market.

The Problem: Traditional MVP Development is Slow#

Building an MVP the traditional way involves a lengthy process:

  1. Ideation and Planning
  2. UI/UX Design (Figma, Sketch, etc.)
  3. Frontend Development (React, Vue, Angular)
  4. Backend Development (Node.js, Python, Ruby)
  5. Testing and Iteration

Each step is time-consuming and prone to errors. Design handoffs can be messy, and translating static designs into dynamic code requires significant effort. Screenshot-to-code tools offer a partial solution, but they lack the crucial understanding of user behavior. They can only reproduce what's visible, not what the user intended to do.

The Solution: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction with Replay#

Replay offers a radically different approach. Instead of starting with static designs, you start with a video of someone using the intended application flow. Replay analyzes this video and uses its understanding of user behavior to generate functional code.

Here's how Replay stacks up against traditional and screenshot-to-code methods:

FeatureTraditionalScreenshot-to-CodeReplay
InputDesignsScreenshotsVideo
Behavior AnalysisPartial
Multi-Page SupportManualLimited
State ManagementManualLimited
Data IntegrationManualManual✅ (Supabase)
Code QualityVariableLowHigh
Understanding Intent

Rebuilding a SaaS MVP with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through the process of rebuilding a simplified SaaS MVP using Replay. We'll focus on a task management application.

Step 1: Record the User Flow#

Record a video of yourself (or a user) interacting with a prototype or even a competitor's application that embodies the desired functionality. Make sure the video clearly demonstrates the key user flows, such as:

  • Creating a new task
  • Assigning a task to a user
  • Marking a task as complete
  • Viewing task details

📝 Note: The clearer the video, the better the reconstruction. Narrate your actions while recording to provide additional context.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to the Replay platform. Replay's AI engine will analyze the video frame by frame, identifying UI elements, user interactions, and application state changes.

Step 3: Configure Reconstruction Settings#

Configure the reconstruction settings within Replay. This includes:

  • Target Framework: Choose the desired frontend framework (e.g., React, Vue).
  • Styling Options: Select a styling library (e.g., Tailwind CSS, Material UI) or opt for custom CSS.
  • Data Integration: Configure the Supabase connection to automatically integrate data persistence.

Step 4: Generate the Code#

Click the "Generate Code" button. Replay will use its AI engine to generate the UI code based on the video analysis and configuration settings. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of the video.

Step 5: Review and Refine the Code#

Review the generated code in the Replay editor. You can make adjustments, add custom logic, and refine the UI as needed. Replay provides a visual editor and code preview to facilitate this process.

Step 6: Deploy and Iterate#

Deploy the generated code to your hosting platform of choice. Because Replay generates standard, clean code, you can easily integrate it into your existing development workflow.

💡 Pro Tip: Use Replay's "Product Flow Maps" to visualize the user journey extracted from the video. This helps identify potential bottlenecks and areas for improvement.

Example: Creating a New Task Component (Generated by Replay)#

Here's an example of a React component generated by Replay for creating a new task:

typescript
// Generated by Replay import React, { useState } from 'react'; import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'; const supabaseUrl = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_URL; const supabaseKey = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY; const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey); const CreateTask = () => { const [taskName, setTaskName] = useState(''); const handleSubmit = async (e) => { e.preventDefault(); const { data, error } = await supabase .from('tasks') .insert([{ name: taskName }]); if (error) { console.error('Error creating task:', error); } else { console.log('Task created successfully:', data); setTaskName(''); // Clear the input field } }; return ( <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}> <label htmlFor="taskName">Task Name:</label> <input type="text" id="taskName" value={taskName} onChange={(e) => setTaskName(e.target.value)} /> <button type="submit">Create Task</button> </form> ); }; export default CreateTask;

This code includes:

  • A React component with state management for the task name.
  • A form for entering the task name.
  • A Supabase integration for persisting the task data.

This is just a snippet, but it demonstrates the power of Replay to generate functional code with data integration directly from a video.

Replay's Key Features:#

  • Multi-Page Generation: Reconstruct complex applications with multiple pages and navigation flows.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase for data persistence and authentication.
  • Style Injection: Apply consistent styling using popular CSS frameworks or custom CSS.
  • Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user journey extracted from the video to identify areas for improvement.
  • Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: Understand user intent and generate code that accurately reflects the desired functionality.

Benefits of Using Replay:#

  • Accelerated Development: Reduce development time by up to 80%.
  • Improved Accuracy: Generate code that accurately reflects user intent.
  • Reduced Errors: Minimize manual coding errors and design handoff issues.
  • Faster Iteration: Quickly iterate on your MVP based on user feedback.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitate collaboration between designers and developers.

Replay vs. Other Code Generation Tools#

Replay differentiates itself from other code generation tools through its video-first approach and behavior-driven reconstruction.

Featurev0.devDhiWiseReplay
InputText PromptsDesignsVideo
Behavior Analysis
Learning CurveLowMediumLow
Code QualityMediumMediumHigh
Data IntegrationLimitedLimitedSupabase
Use CasesSimple UIComplex AppsSaaS MVPs

⚠️ Warning: While Replay significantly accelerates development, it's not a replacement for skilled developers. You'll still need developers to review, refine, and extend the generated code.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features and usage. Paid plans are available for increased usage and access to advanced features.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

v0.dev generates UI components based on text prompts, while Replay reconstructs working UI from video recordings, understanding user behavior and intent. Replay focuses on behavior-driven reconstruction.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Currently, Replay supports React, Vue, and Angular. Support for additional frameworks is planned for future releases.

Can I customize the generated code?#

Yes, you can customize the generated code using the Replay editor or by exporting the code to your local development environment.

How does Replay handle complex application logic?#

Replay focuses on reconstructing the UI and basic application flow. Complex application logic may require manual coding.


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

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