How to Recreate a Complex React Form with Validation from Video Using Replay

TL;DR: Replay uses video analysis and AI to reconstruct complex React forms with validation, saving developers significant time and effort compared to traditional methods.

From Video to Validated Form: Recreating React UIs with Replay#

Building complex forms with robust validation in React can be a time-consuming and tedious process. Manually inspecting existing forms, deciphering their logic, and then painstakingly recreating them in code is a common pain point for developers. What if you could simply record a video of the form in action and have the code automatically generated? That's the power of Replay.

Replay leverages behavior-driven reconstruction, analyzing video to understand user interactions and intent, rather than just relying on static screenshots. This allows it to generate not only the UI structure but also the associated logic, including form validation. This article will walk you through how to recreate a complex React form with validation from a video using Replay.

The Problem: Manual Form Recreation is a Time Sink#

Imagine you need to replicate a signup form from a competitor's website or recreate a legacy form without access to the original codebase. Traditionally, you'd have to:

1. •Manually analyze the existing form, identifying all input fields, their types, and validation rules.
2. •Write the React components for each input field.
3. •Implement the form validation logic using libraries like Formik or React Hook Form.
4. •Style the form to match the original design.
5. •Thoroughly test the form to ensure it functions correctly.

This process can take hours, if not days, depending on the complexity of the form. Screenshot-to-code tools offer limited help because they don't understand the underlying behavior and validation.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay offers a revolutionary approach: video-to-code conversion powered by Gemini AI. Instead of just converting pixels, Replay analyzes the behavior demonstrated in the video, understanding user interactions, data flow, and validation triggers. This allows it to generate working React code, including form validation logic, directly from a screen recording.

Step 1: Recording the Form Interaction#

The first step is to record a clear video of the form in action. Ensure the video captures:

• •All input fields and their labels.
• •Different input scenarios, including valid and invalid data.
• •Error messages and their corresponding triggers.
• •Submission process and any subsequent actions.

💡 Pro Tip: Record multiple takes to ensure you capture all possible validation scenarios. The more comprehensive the video, the better Replay can understand the form's behavior.

Step 2: Uploading and Processing the Video in Replay#

Upload the recorded video to Replay. The platform will then process the video, using its AI engine to analyze the UI elements, user interactions, and data flow. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of the video.

Step 3: Reviewing and Refining the Generated Code#

Once the processing is complete, Replay will present you with the generated React code. This code will include:

• •React components for each input field.
• •State management using hooks like
  text

  useState
  .
• •Form validation logic (e.g., using regular expressions or custom validation functions).
• •Error handling and display of error messages.
• •Basic styling to resemble the original form.

Review the generated code carefully and make any necessary refinements. Replay provides a user-friendly interface for editing the code directly within the platform.

📝 Note: While Replay strives for accuracy, manual review and refinement are always recommended to ensure the generated code meets your specific requirements.

Step 4: Implementing Form Validation with React Hook Form (Example)#

Let's illustrate how Replay might generate code using React Hook Form for validation. Suppose the video shows a form with "Name" and "Email" fields, where "Email" requires a valid email format.

typescript
import React from 'react';
import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';

interface FormData {
  name: string;
  email: string;
}

const MyForm: React.FC = () => {
  const { register, handleSubmit, formState: { errors } } = useForm<FormData>();

  const onSubmit = (data: FormData) => {
    console.log(data); // Handle form submission here
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit(onSubmit)}>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="name">Name:</label>
        <input type="text" id="name" {...register("name", { required: "Name is required" })} />
        {errors.name && <span>{errors.name.message}</span>}
      </div>

      <div>
        <label htmlFor="email">Email:</label>
        <input
          type="email"
          id="email"
          {...register("email", {
            required: "Email is required",
            pattern: {
              value: /^[^\s@]+@[^\s@]+\.[^\s@]+$/,
              message: "Invalid email format",
            },
          })}
        />
        {errors.email && <span>{errors.email.message}</span>}
      </div>

      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    </form>
  );
};

export default MyForm;

In this example, Replay would have identified the "Name" and "Email" fields, recognized the requirement for a valid email format, and generated the corresponding validation rules using React Hook Form's

function and validation.

Step 5: Integrating with Supabase (Optional)#

Replay also offers seamless integration with Supabase, allowing you to easily store and retrieve form data. If your video demonstrates data being submitted to a backend, Replay can generate the necessary API calls and database interactions to connect your form to Supabase.

typescript
// Example of submitting form data to Supabase
const onSubmit = async (data: FormData) => {
  const { data: response, error } = await supabase
    .from('form_submissions')
    .insert([data]);

  if (error) {
    console.error('Error submitting data to Supabase:', error);
  } else {
    console.log('Data submitted successfully:', response);
  }
};

⚠️ Warning: Always sanitize and validate data on the server-side to prevent security vulnerabilities, even if you have client-side validation.

Benefits of Using Replay#

• •Significant Time Savings: Automate the tedious process of manually recreating forms.
• •Improved Accuracy: Reduce the risk of errors and inconsistencies compared to manual recreation.
• •Enhanced Collaboration: Easily share and collaborate on form development with team members.
• •Faster Prototyping: Quickly generate prototypes of complex forms for testing and feedback.
• •Reduced Development Costs: Lower development costs by automating repetitive tasks.

Real-World Use Cases#

• •Recreating Legacy Forms: Easily modernize and update legacy forms without access to the original codebase.
• •Competitor Analysis: Quickly replicate forms from competitor websites for analysis and comparison.
• •Rapid Prototyping: Generate functional prototypes of complex forms in minutes.
• •Documentation: Create living documentation by reconstructing UIs from user training videos.

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 like Supabase integration and style injection.

How accurate is the code generated by Replay?#

Replay's accuracy depends on the clarity and completeness of the video. While it strives for high accuracy, manual review and refinement are always recommended.

What types of forms can Replay handle?#

Replay can handle a wide variety of forms, including simple contact forms, complex multi-step forms, and forms with dynamic validation rules.

Does Replay support custom validation logic?#

Yes, Replay allows you to add custom validation logic to the generated code to meet your specific requirements.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Currently, Replay primarily focuses on React. Support for other frameworks is planned for future releases.

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