TL;DR: Reconstruct fully functional React dashboards from video recordings in under 10 minutes using Replay's behavior-driven reconstruction engine, bypassing the limitations of screenshot-to-code tools.
The "screenshot-to-code" dream is dead. It was a nice concept, but fundamentally flawed. Screenshots are static. They capture what something looks like, not how it behaves, or why a user interacts with it in a certain way. Building robust, production-ready UI demands understanding user intent, workflows, and dynamic state changes. That’s why Replay uses video as the source of truth.
In 2026, we're beyond simple UI cloning. We need tools that can understand the behavior behind the interface. Replay, powered by advanced video analysis and Gemini's code generation capabilities, reconstructs working UI from screen recordings, delivering fully functional React dashboards in minutes. Forget pixel-perfect replicas; think behavior-driven, stateful applications.
The Problem with Static Images#
Screenshot-to-code tools hit a wall because they treat UI as a static visual representation. A button is just a collection of pixels; its functionality is entirely absent. This leads to:
- •Lack of Interactivity: The generated code is often a static mockup, requiring significant manual effort to add event handlers, state management, and data connections.
- •Inability to Handle Dynamic Content: Screenshots can't capture dynamic content, such as data fetched from an API, user input, or animations.
- •Workflow Blindness: The tool doesn't understand the user's workflow or the purpose of each UI element within the broader application context.
Replay tackles these limitations head-on by analyzing video recordings of user interactions. This allows it to understand not just what the UI looks like, but how it's used and why.
Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: Video as the Source of Truth#
Replay introduces "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction," a paradigm shift where video is the primary input for code generation. By analyzing user interactions, Replay understands:
- •User Flows: How users navigate between pages, trigger events, and interact with UI elements.
- •State Management: How the UI changes in response to user actions and data updates.
- •Data Dependencies: How data is fetched, displayed, and manipulated within the application.
This behavioral understanding is crucial for generating functional, production-ready code.
Reconstructing a React Dashboard in Under 10 Minutes: A Step-by-Step Guide#
Let's walk through reconstructing a React dashboard from a video recording using Replay.
Step 1: Upload and Analyze the Video#
Upload your screen recording to Replay. The engine will automatically analyze the video, identifying UI elements, user interactions, and application workflows. This process usually takes a few minutes, depending on the video length and complexity.
💡 Pro Tip: Ensure your video clearly demonstrates the key functionalities and user flows of the dashboard. Narrating your actions during the recording can significantly improve Replay's understanding.
Step 2: Define the Scope and Integration#
Specify the scope of the reconstruction. Do you want to generate the entire dashboard, or just a specific section? Define the desired integration points, such as the Supabase database schema.
📝 Note: Replay supports seamless integration with Supabase, allowing you to automatically generate data models and API calls based on your database schema.
Step 3: Style Injection (Optional)#
Optionally, inject custom styles to match your brand's aesthetic. Replay supports CSS, Tailwind CSS, and other styling frameworks. You can either upload a style sheet or define styles directly within the Replay interface.
css/* Example: Injecting custom styles */ .dashboard-container { background-color: #f0f2f5; padding: 20px; } .card { box-shadow: 0 4px 8px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); transition: 0.3s; }
Step 4: Generate the Code#
Click the "Generate Code" button. Replay will use the analyzed video, defined scope, and style injections to generate a fully functional React dashboard. The generated code includes:
- •React Components: Reusable UI components with proper state management and event handlers.
- •Data Fetching Logic: API calls to fetch data from Supabase or other data sources.
- •Routing: Navigation logic to handle multi-page applications.
- •Styling: CSS or Tailwind CSS styles to match the desired aesthetic.
Step 5: Review and Refine#
Review the generated code and make any necessary refinements. Replay provides a visual editor that allows you to easily modify the UI layout, component properties, and event handlers.
⚠️ Warning: While Replay generates high-quality code, it's essential to review and test the generated application thoroughly to ensure it meets your specific requirements.
Replay in Action: A Code Example#
Here's an example of the React code generated by Replay for a simple dashboard component displaying user data:
typescriptimport React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react'; import { supabase } from './supabaseClient'; // Assuming you've configured Supabase interface User { id: string; name: string; email: string; } const UserDashboard = () => { const [users, setUsers] = useState<User[]>([]); const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true); useEffect(() => { const fetchUsers = async () => { try { const { data, error } = await supabase .from('users') .select('*'); if (error) { throw error; } setUsers(data as User[]); setLoading(false); } catch (error: any) { console.error("Error fetching users:", error.message); setLoading(false); } }; fetchUsers(); }, []); if (loading) { return <div>Loading users...</div>; } return ( <div> <h2>User Dashboard</h2> <ul> {users.map(user => ( <li key={user.id}> {user.name} - {user.email} </li> ))} </ul> </div> ); }; export default UserDashboard;
This code demonstrates how Replay automatically generates components, fetches data from Supabase, and renders the UI based on the retrieved data.
Replay vs. Traditional Screenshot-to-Code Tools#
Here's a comparison of Replay with traditional screenshot-to-code tools:
| Feature | Screenshot-to-Code | Replay |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Static Images | Video Recordings |
| Behavior Analysis | ❌ | ✅ |
| State Management | ❌ | ✅ |
| Data Integration | Manual | Automated (e.g., Supabase) |
| Interactivity | Limited | Fully Functional |
| Output | Static Mockups | Working React Components |
| Understanding User Flows | ❌ | ✅ |
| Multi-page Generation | Limited | ✅ |
As you can see, Replay offers a significant advantage over traditional screenshot-to-code tools by understanding user behavior and generating fully functional code.
Key Benefits of Using Replay#
- •Accelerated Development: Generate working UI in minutes, significantly reducing development time.
- •Improved Code Quality: Replay generates clean, well-structured code that follows best practices.
- •Enhanced Collaboration: Easily share video recordings and generated code with your team.
- •Reduced Manual Effort: Automate repetitive tasks, such as creating UI components and wiring up data connections.
- •Behavior-Driven Design: Ensure your UI accurately reflects user workflows and interactions.
- •Multi-page applications are supported out of the box. Replay automatically detects page transitions and generates appropriate routing logic.
- •Product Flow Maps: Replay visualizes user flows, making it easier to understand and optimize the user experience.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Is Replay free to use?#
Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits. Check the pricing page at https://replay.build for the most up-to-date information.
How is Replay different from v0.dev?#
v0.dev primarily focuses on generating UI components based on text prompts. Replay, on the other hand, analyzes video recordings to understand user behavior and reconstruct entire applications, including state management, data integration, and routing. Replay understands how the application should behave, not just how it should look.
What kind of videos work best with Replay?#
Videos that clearly demonstrate the user flows and interactions you want to reconstruct. Narrating your actions can also help. Aim for clear visuals and minimal distractions.
Does Replay support other frameworks besides React?#
Currently, Replay primarily supports React. Support for other frameworks is planned for future releases.
Ready to try behavior-driven code generation? Get started with Replay - transform any video into working code in seconds.