How to Reconstruct a React Dashboard from Video in 5 Steps (2026)

TL;DR: Learn how to reconstruct a fully functional React dashboard from a video recording in just 5 steps using Replay, leveraging behavior-driven code generation.

The dream of instantly converting ideas into working code is closer than ever. While screenshot-to-code tools offer a glimpse into this future, they often fall short by only capturing visual elements, missing the crucial user behavior and intent behind the interface. What if you could reconstruct an entire application, not just from its appearance, but from how users actually interact with it?

That's the promise of behavior-driven reconstruction, and it's now a reality with Replay.

From Video to React: A New Paradigm#

Traditional methods of UI development rely on manual coding, design specifications, and iterative testing. This process is time-consuming and prone to errors. Replay offers a revolutionary approach: analyzing video recordings of user interactions to automatically generate functional code. This "video-to-code" engine, powered by Gemini, understands the underlying logic and behavior, enabling the reconstruction of complex UIs with unprecedented accuracy.

Why Video is the Ultimate Source of Truth#

Unlike static images or design mockups, video captures the dynamic nature of user interactions. It reveals:

• •Navigation patterns
• •Data input and manipulation
• •State transitions
• •Error handling

By analyzing these elements, Replay can infer the application's intended functionality and generate code that accurately reflects it. This approach, which we call "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction," ensures that the generated code isn't just visually similar, but functionally equivalent to the original.

Reconstructing a React Dashboard: 5 Steps to Success#

Let's walk through the process of reconstructing a React dashboard from a video recording using Replay.

Step 1: Recording the User Flow#

The first step is to capture a clear video recording of the user interacting with the dashboard. This recording should showcase all key features and functionalities, including:

• •User authentication
• •Data visualization (charts, graphs)
• •Data manipulation (filtering, sorting, editing)
• •Navigation between different sections

💡 Pro Tip: Ensure the video is high-quality with clear audio. Narration explaining the user's intent can significantly improve Replay's accuracy.

Step 2: Uploading the Video to Replay#

Once you have the video, upload it to the Replay platform. Replay supports various video formats and provides a user-friendly interface for managing your recordings.

📝 Note: Replay uses advanced video processing techniques to extract relevant information from the recording. This process may take a few minutes depending on the video length and complexity.

Step 3: Configuring Reconstruction Settings#

Before initiating the reconstruction process, you can configure several settings to optimize the output:

• •Target Framework: Select "React" as the target framework.
• •Styling Method: Choose between CSS-in-JS, CSS Modules, or plain CSS.
• •Data Integration: Configure the connection to your Supabase database (if applicable).
• •Page Segmentation: Specify the boundaries between different pages or sections of the dashboard.

Step 4: Initiating the Code Generation#

With the settings configured, initiate the code generation process. Replay will analyze the video, identify UI elements, understand user interactions, and generate React components accordingly.

⚠️ Warning: The accuracy of the generated code depends on the quality of the video and the clarity of user interactions. Ensure the video is free from distractions and showcases all key functionalities.

Step 5: Reviewing and Refining the Generated Code#

Once the code generation is complete, Replay provides a visual interface for reviewing the generated React components. You can:

• •Inspect the code for each component.
• •Modify the code to fine-tune the functionality.
• •Download the generated code as a React project.

Here's a snippet of the generated React code for a dashboard component:

typescript
// Generated by Replay
import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { supabase } from './supabaseClient'; // Assuming Supabase integration

interface DashboardProps {
  userId: string;
}

const Dashboard: React.FC<DashboardProps> = ({ userId }) => {
  const [userData, setUserData] = useState<any>(null);
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState<boolean>(true);

  useEffect(() => {
    const fetchData = async () => {
      try {
        setLoading(true);
        const { data, error } = await supabase
          .from('users')
          .select('*')
          .eq('id', userId)
          .single();

        if (error) {
          throw error;
        }

        setUserData(data);
      } catch (error: any) {
        console.error('Error fetching user data:', error.message);
      } finally {
        setLoading(false);
      }
    };

    fetchData();
  }, [userId]);

  if (loading) {
    return <div>Loading...</div>;
  }

  if (!userData) {
    return <div>User data not found.</div>;
  }

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Welcome, {userData.username}!</h1>
      <p>Email: {userData.email}</p>
      {/* More dashboard content based on video analysis */}
    </div>
  );
};

export default Dashboard;

This code snippet demonstrates how Replay can automatically generate React components with data fetching logic, state management, and UI rendering based on the video analysis.

Replay's Key Features:#

• •Multi-page Generation: Reconstruct entire applications with multiple pages and complex navigation flows.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with your Supabase database for data persistence and real-time updates.
• •Style Injection: Apply custom styles to the generated components using CSS-in-JS, CSS Modules, or plain CSS.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flow and interactions within the application.

Replay vs. Traditional Methods#

The Benefits of Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

• •Accelerated Development: Significantly reduce the time and effort required to build UIs.
• •Improved Accuracy: Generate code that accurately reflects user behavior and intent.
• •Reduced Errors: Minimize manual coding errors and inconsistencies.
• •Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitate collaboration between designers, developers, and stakeholders.
• •Rapid Prototyping: Quickly create functional prototypes from video recordings.

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.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to automate UI development, Replay distinguishes itself by using video as the primary input source. This allows Replay to understand user behavior and intent, leading to more accurate and functional code generation. v0.dev relies primarily on text prompts and code generation models, which may not always capture the nuances of user interactions.

What types of applications can Replay reconstruct?#

Replay can reconstruct a wide range of applications, including dashboards, e-commerce sites, mobile apps, and web applications. The key requirement is a clear video recording of the user interacting with the application.

What if the generated code isn't perfect?#

Replay provides a visual interface for reviewing and refining the generated code. You can easily modify the code to fine-tune the functionality and ensure it meets your specific requirements. The goal is to provide a strong foundation that significantly reduces manual coding effort.

Does Replay support other frameworks besides React?#

Currently, Replay primarily supports React. However, support for other frameworks such as Vue.js and Angular is planned for future releases.

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