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January 5, 20268 min readHow to rebuild

How to rebuild video as a Nextjs Component using React Native in 2026.

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Rebuild any user interface from video using Replay, leveraging Gemini's AI to generate functional React Native components for your Next.js application.

The year is 2026. Screenshot-to-code is ancient history. We're now in the age of Behavior-Driven Reconstruction, where video is the source of truth for generating functional UI. Forget static images; we want to understand user intent, the flow, and the nuances of interaction. This is where Replay comes in.

The Problem: From Video to Functional UI – A Complex Challenge#

Manually transcribing user behavior from video into code is a tedious and error-prone process. It involves:

  • Analyzing video frame by frame to understand UI elements and their states.
  • Interpreting user actions and translating them into code logic.
  • Recreating the UI structure and styling in React Native.
  • Connecting UI elements to backend services and data sources.
  • Ensuring cross-platform compatibility and responsiveness.

This process can take days or even weeks for complex UIs, hindering development speed and innovation.

The Solution: Replay - Video-to-Code Engine#

Replay offers a revolutionary approach to UI development by automatically generating React Native components from video recordings. It uses Gemini's powerful AI to analyze video, understand user behavior, and reconstruct a functional UI.

Replay's key features:

  • Video Input: Accepts video recordings as input, capturing user interactions and UI states.
  • Behavior Analysis: Analyzes user behavior and intent to understand the flow of the application.
  • Multi-Page Generation: Generates code for multi-page applications, preserving navigation and data flow.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Supabase for backend data storage and retrieval.
  • Style Injection: Injects styling based on the video's visual cues, ensuring a consistent look and feel.
  • Product Flow Maps: Visualizes user flows and identifies potential areas for improvement.

How Replay Works: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay employs a "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" approach, treating video as the single source of truth. Here's a breakdown of the process:

  1. Video Capture: Record a video of the desired UI in action, showcasing user interactions and data flow.
  2. AI Analysis: Replay uses Gemini to analyze the video, identifying UI elements, user actions, and data dependencies.
  3. Code Generation: Based on the analysis, Replay generates React Native components with corresponding logic and styling.
  4. Integration: The generated code can be seamlessly integrated into your Next.js application.

Rebuilding Video as a Next.js Component with React Native: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through the process of rebuilding a simple video-based UI as a React Native component within a Next.js application using Replay.

Step 1: Capture the Video#

Record a video of the UI you want to rebuild. For example, let's say you have a simple login screen with a username field, a password field, and a login button. Ensure the video clearly shows the user interacting with these elements.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to Replay. The AI engine will automatically analyze the video and identify the UI elements and user interactions.

Step 3: Review and Refine#

Review the generated code and make any necessary refinements. Replay provides a visual interface for editing the code and adjusting the UI layout.

Step 4: Integrate into Next.js#

Integrate the generated React Native component into your Next.js application. This involves:

  1. Creating a new React Native project within your Next.js application.
  2. Copying the generated code into the React Native project.
  3. Bridging the React Native component to your Next.js application.

Here's an example of a generated React Native component for the login screen:

typescript
// LoginScreen.tsx import React, { useState } from 'react'; import { View, Text, TextInput, Button, StyleSheet } from 'react-native'; const LoginScreen = () => { const [username, setUsername] = useState(''); const [password, setPassword] = useState(''); const handleLogin = async () => { // Simulate API call const response = await fetch('/api/login', { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', }, body: JSON.stringify({ username, password }), }); if (response.ok) { alert('Login successful!'); } else { alert('Login failed.'); } }; return ( <View style={styles.container}> <Text style={styles.title}>Login</Text> <TextInput style={styles.input} placeholder="Username" value={username} onChangeText={setUsername} /> <TextInput style={styles.input} placeholder="Password" secureTextEntry={true} value={password} onChangeText={setPassword} /> <Button title="Login" onPress={handleLogin} /> </View> ); }; const styles = StyleSheet.create({ container: { flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center', padding: 20, }, title: { fontSize: 24, marginBottom: 20, }, input: { width: '100%', height: 40, borderColor: 'gray', borderWidth: 1, marginBottom: 10, padding: 10, }, }); export default LoginScreen;

And here's how you can bridge the React Native component to your Next.js application:

typescript
// pages/login.tsx import React from 'react'; import { View, StyleSheet } from 'react-native'; import { LoginScreen } from '../components/LoginScreen'; // Assuming the React Native component is in components/LoginScreen.tsx const LoginPage = () => { return ( <View style={styles.container}> <LoginScreen /> </View> ); }; const styles = StyleSheet.create({ container: { flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center', }, }); export default LoginPage;

💡 Pro Tip: Use Expo or a similar tool to easily run and test your React Native components within your Next.js application.

Step 5: Customize and Extend#

Customize and extend the generated code to meet your specific requirements. You can modify the UI layout, add new features, and integrate with your backend services.

Replay vs. Traditional Methods & Screenshot-to-Code#

FeatureTraditional Manual CodingScreenshot-to-Code ToolsReplay
InputManual specificationStatic imagesVideo
Behavior AnalysisManual interpretationLimited
Code AccuracyDependent on developer skillProne to errorsHigh, driven by AI
Time to CompletionDays/WeeksHoursMinutes
Understanding User IntentRequires detailed documentationLimited
Multi-Page App SupportRequires significant effortLimited
Backend IntegrationManualManualStreamlined (Supabase Integration)

📝 Note: Screenshot-to-code tools are useful for generating basic UI layouts, but they lack the ability to understand user behavior and generate functional code. Replay bridges this gap by analyzing video recordings and reconstructing the UI based on user interactions.

Addressing Common Concerns#

  • Accuracy: Replay leverages the power of Gemini to ensure high accuracy in code generation. However, it's essential to review and refine the generated code to ensure it meets your specific requirements.
  • Complexity: Replay can handle complex UIs, but the accuracy and quality of the generated code depend on the clarity and completeness of the input video.
  • Customization: Replay provides a visual interface for editing the generated code and customizing the UI layout. You can also extend the generated code with your own logic and functionality.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay significantly reduces development time, it's not a replacement for skilled developers. Reviewing and refining the generated code is crucial to ensure quality and functionality.

Benefits of Using Replay#

  • Accelerated Development: Generate functional UI components in minutes instead of days or weeks.
  • Improved Accuracy: Leverage AI to accurately reconstruct UI elements and user interactions.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitate collaboration between designers and developers by providing a common language for UI development.
  • Reduced Errors: Minimize manual coding errors and ensure consistency across your application.
  • Increased Innovation: Free up developers to focus on more complex tasks and innovative features.
  • Cost Savings: Reduce development costs by automating the UI reconstruction process.

Here's a summary of the key benefits:

  • Speed: Rapidly generate code from video.
  • Accuracy: AI-powered reconstruction.
  • Collaboration: Bridges the gap between design and development.
  • Efficiency: Reduces manual coding efforts.
  • Innovation: Allows focus on core application logic.
  • Cost-Effective: Lowers development expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features and usage. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits. Check the [Replay pricing page](https://replay.build/pricing - placeholder link) for details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

v0.dev focuses on generating UI components based on text prompts and existing component libraries. Replay, on the other hand, analyzes video recordings to understand user behavior and reconstruct the UI from scratch. Replay excels at capturing the nuances of user interaction and replicating existing UIs, while v0.dev is better suited for creating new UIs from scratch.

What types of videos can Replay process?#

Replay can process a wide range of video formats, including MP4, MOV, and AVI. The video should be clear and well-lit, with minimal background noise.

Does Replay support different UI frameworks?#

Currently, Replay primarily supports React Native. Support for other UI frameworks, such as Flutter and Vue.js, is planned for future releases.

How secure is Replay?#

Replay uses industry-standard security measures to protect your data. All video recordings are stored securely and are only accessible to authorized users.


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