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January 4, 20267 min readHow to Reconstruct

How to Reconstruct a Mobile App Interface from Video to Code with Replay in 2026

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: In 2026, Replay leverages advanced video analysis and Gemini to reconstruct fully functional mobile app interfaces from screen recordings, dramatically accelerating development and prototyping.

Reconstructing Mobile App Interfaces: Video to Code in 2026#

The year is 2026. Mobile app development is faster and more intuitive than ever, thanks to breakthroughs in AI-powered code generation. But what if you could simply show the AI what you want, instead of painstakingly describing it? That's the promise of Replay, a video-to-code engine that's revolutionizing how we build mobile apps.

Traditional methods of UI development often involve:

  • Manual coding of UI components
  • Iterative design and testing cycles
  • Relying on static mockups and screenshots

These processes are time-consuming and prone to errors. Screenshot-to-code tools offered some improvement, but they only captured the visual representation, not the behavior and intent behind the UI. Replay changes everything by treating video as the source of truth.

The Power of Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay isn't just another screenshot-to-code tool. It utilizes "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" – analyzing video recordings of user interactions to understand the underlying logic and functionality of a mobile app interface. This allows Replay to generate code that not only looks right but also behaves as intended.

Understanding the Technology Behind Replay#

At the heart of Replay is a sophisticated AI engine powered by Gemini. This engine analyzes video frames, identifies UI elements, and infers user intent based on actions like taps, swipes, and text input. Replay then translates this understanding into clean, functional code.

Here's a comparison of Replay with traditional and screenshot-based approaches:

FeatureTraditional CodingScreenshot-to-CodeReplay
InputManual CodeStatic ImagesVideo
Behavior AnalysisManual ImplementationLimited
Dynamic UI GenerationManual ImplementationLimited
Multi-Page SupportManual ImplementationLimited
Understanding User FlowRequires manual trackingRequires manual tracking
Code QualityDependent on Developer SkillVariableHigh
Iteration SpeedSlowModerateFast

💡 Pro Tip: Replay excels at capturing complex user flows and interactions, making it ideal for prototyping and reverse-engineering existing apps.

Building a Mobile App Interface with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through the process of reconstructing a simple mobile app interface using Replay. Imagine you have a video recording of a user interacting with a basic to-do list app.

Step 1: Uploading the Video to Replay#

The first step is to upload the video recording to the Replay platform. Replay supports various video formats and resolutions.

Step 2: Replay Analyzes the Video#

Once uploaded, Replay's AI engine begins analyzing the video. This process involves:

  1. Object Detection: Identifying and labeling UI elements like buttons, text fields, and lists.
  2. Behavioral Analysis: Understanding user interactions, such as taps, swipes, and text input.
  3. Flow Mapping: Mapping the user's journey through different screens and states of the app.

Step 3: Code Generation and Customization#

After the analysis is complete, Replay generates the code for the mobile app interface. This code can be customized to fit your specific needs. Replay supports multiple frameworks, including React Native, Flutter, and Swift.

typescript
// Example React Native code generated by Replay import React, { useState } from 'react'; import { View, Text, TextInput, Button, FlatList, StyleSheet } from 'react-native'; const TodoApp = () => { const [todos, setTodos] = useState([]); const [newTodo, setNewTodo] = useState(''); const addTodo = () => { if (newTodo.trim() !== '') { setTodos([...todos, { id: Date.now().toString(), text: newTodo.trim() }]); setNewTodo(''); } }; const deleteTodo = (id) => { setTodos(todos.filter(todo => todo.id !== id)); }; return ( <View style={styles.container}> <Text style={styles.title}>To-Do List</Text> <View style={styles.inputContainer}> <TextInput style={styles.input} placeholder="Add a new todo" value={newTodo} onChangeText={text => setNewTodo(text)} /> <Button title="Add" onPress={addTodo} /> </View> <FlatList data={todos} keyExtractor={item => item.id} renderItem={({ item }) => ( <View style={styles.todoItem}> <Text>{item.text}</Text> <Button title="Delete" onPress={() => deleteTodo(item.id)} /> </View> )} /> </View> ); }; const styles = StyleSheet.create({ container: { flex: 1, padding: 20, }, title: { fontSize: 24, fontWeight: 'bold', marginBottom: 20, }, inputContainer: { flexDirection: 'row', marginBottom: 20, }, input: { flex: 1, borderWidth: 1, borderColor: '#ccc', padding: 10, marginRight: 10, }, todoItem: { flexDirection: 'row', justifyContent: 'space-between', alignItems: 'center', padding: 10, borderBottomWidth: 1, borderBottomColor: '#eee', }, }); export default TodoApp;

Step 4: Integrating with Supabase (Optional)#

Replay seamlessly integrates with Supabase, allowing you to easily connect your reconstructed UI to a backend database. This simplifies data management and enables you to build dynamic and data-driven mobile apps.

Step 5: Style Injection#

Replay allows you to inject custom styles into the generated code, ensuring that the UI matches your desired look and feel. You can use CSS or styling libraries like Styled Components to achieve this.

css
/* Example CSS style injection */ .button { background-color: #4CAF50; /* Green */ border: none; color: white; padding: 15px 32px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; margin: 4px 2px; cursor: pointer; }

📝 Note: Replay's style injection feature ensures visual consistency across different platforms and devices.

Replay's Key Features in 2026#

Replay offers a comprehensive suite of features that streamline the mobile app development process:

  • Multi-Page Generation: Reconstruct entire app flows from a single video.
  • Supabase Integration: Connect your UI to a powerful backend with ease.
  • Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of your app with CSS or styling libraries.
  • Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user's journey through your app.
  • Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: Understand user intent and generate code that behaves as expected.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay significantly accelerates development, always review the generated code to ensure accuracy and security.

Use Cases for Replay#

Replay is a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of scenarios:

  • Prototyping: Quickly create interactive prototypes from video recordings.
  • Reverse Engineering: Reconstruct existing apps to understand their functionality.
  • UI Automation: Automate the process of creating UI tests.
  • Training Material Generation: Easily create training videos with corresponding code examples.
  • Legacy Code Modernization: Quickly rebuild older apps with modern frameworks.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for users who require more advanced functionality and higher usage limits.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While v0.dev focuses on generating UI components from text prompts, Replay analyzes video recordings to understand user behavior and reconstruct entire app flows. Replay's behavior-driven reconstruction approach allows it to generate code that is not only visually accurate but also functionally correct. Replay also offers direct Supabase integration and style injection, features not readily available in v0.dev.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Replay currently supports React Native, Flutter, and Swift. Support for additional frameworks is planned for future releases.

How accurate is the code generated by Replay?#

Replay's AI engine is highly accurate, but the quality of the generated code depends on the clarity and quality of the input video. It's always recommended to review and test the generated code thoroughly.

Can Replay handle complex animations and transitions?#

Yes, Replay can analyze and reconstruct complex animations and transitions, but this may require more processing time and may not be perfectly accurate in all cases.#

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

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