How to Recreate a Modern Mobile App from Video to React Native with Replay in 2026

TL;DR: Recreate a fully functional React Native mobile app from a screen recording using Replay's behavior-driven reconstruction, complete with Supabase integration and style injection.

The year is 2026. Screenshot-to-code tools are relics. We're past static representations of UIs. The future is behavior. You have a video of a user interacting with a competitor's cutting-edge mobile app. Your mission: rebuild it in React Native, and fast. Forget tedious manual coding – Replay is here.

From Video to Working App: The Replay Revolution#

Replay isn't just another code generation tool. It’s a behavior-driven reconstruction engine. It leverages advanced AI, powered by Gemini, to analyze video recordings, understand user flows, and generate functional React Native code. This means you're not just getting a visual clone; you're getting an app that works the way the original does.

Let's break down how to recreate a modern mobile app from a video using Replay.

Step 1: Upload and Analyze Your Video#

The first step is uploading the video of the target app to Replay. Replay's AI engine will then analyze the video, identifying UI elements, user interactions (taps, swipes, scrolls), and overall app flow. This process can take a few minutes, depending on the video length and complexity.

💡 Pro Tip: Shorter, focused videos with clear user interactions yield the best results. Focus on specific features or user flows.

Step 2: Review and Refine the Reconstruction#

Once the analysis is complete, Replay presents a reconstructed version of the app's UI and functionality. This isn't just a static image; it's an interactive preview.

You can then review and refine the reconstruction, correcting any misinterpretations or inconsistencies. Replay allows you to:

• •Adjust element boundaries and properties
• •Define event handlers and actions
• •Map UI elements to data sources

📝 Note: While Replay is incredibly accurate, human review is crucial for ensuring the final app meets your specific requirements.

Step 3: Integrate with Supabase#

A modern mobile app needs a backend. Replay seamlessly integrates with Supabase, allowing you to connect your reconstructed UI to a powerful and scalable database.

You can define data models in Supabase and then map UI elements to specific fields. Replay will automatically generate the necessary API calls and data binding logic.

Here's an example of how you might fetch data from Supabase and display it in a React Native component:

typescript
// Assuming you have Supabase configured
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';
import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
import { View, Text } from 'react-native';

const supabaseUrl = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_URL';
const supabaseKey = 'YOUR_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY';
const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey);

const DataDisplay = () => {
  const [data, setData] = useState([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    const fetchData = async () => {
      const { data, error } = await supabase
        .from('your_table')
        .select('*');

      if (error) {
        console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
      } else {
        setData(data);
      }
    };

    fetchData();
  }, []);

  return (
    <View>
      {data.map((item) => (
        <Text key={item.id}>{item.name}</Text>
      ))}
    </View>
  );
};

export default DataDisplay;

This code snippet demonstrates a basic data fetching operation from Supabase within a React Native component. Replay can automatically generate similar code based on your UI and data model definitions.

Step 4: Style Injection and Customization#

Replay allows you to inject custom styles into your reconstructed app. You can use CSS or Styled Components to fine-tune the appearance of the UI elements.

This is crucial for matching the look and feel of the original app or applying your own branding. Replay provides a visual editor for applying styles, making it easy to experiment and iterate.

javascript
// Example using Styled Components
import styled from 'styled-components/native';

const StyledButton = styled.TouchableOpacity`
  background-color: #4CAF50;
  border: none;
  color: white;
  padding: 15px 32px;
  text-align: center;
  text-decoration: none;
  display: inline-block;
  font-size: 16px;
  margin: 4px 2px;
  cursor: pointer;
  border-radius: 5px;
`;

const ButtonText = styled.Text`
  color: white;
`;

const MyButton = () => {
  return (
    <StyledButton>
      <ButtonText>Click Me</ButtonText>
    </StyledButton>
  );
};

export default MyButton;

Replay can integrate these styled components directly into the generated React Native code, ensuring a consistent and maintainable styling approach.

Step 5: Generate and Deploy Your React Native App#

Once you're satisfied with the reconstruction, data integration, and styling, you can generate the complete React Native app. Replay provides a downloadable project with all the necessary code and assets.

You can then deploy the app to your preferred platform, such as iOS or Android.

Replay vs. Traditional Methods#

Let's be honest, recreating a mobile app from scratch is a massive undertaking. Traditional methods involve:

• •Manual UI design and coding
• •Reverse engineering app logic
• •Setting up backend infrastructure
• •Testing and debugging

Replay significantly reduces the time and effort required for this process.

As you can see, Replay offers a significant advantage over traditional methods and even surpasses basic screenshot-to-code tools.

The Power of Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

The key difference between Replay and other code generation tools is its focus on behavior. Replay doesn't just look at the visual appearance of the app; it understands how users interact with it.

This allows Replay to:

• •Generate more accurate and functional code
• •Reconstruct complex user flows
• •Identify hidden functionalities

By analyzing user behavior, Replay can create a truly faithful replica of the original app.

Product Flow Maps: Visualizing the User Journey#

Replay generates product flow maps from the video analysis. These maps visually represent the user's journey through the app, highlighting key interactions and navigation paths. This is invaluable for understanding the app's structure and identifying potential areas for improvement.

The Future is Replay#

Replay is more than just a code generation tool; it's a paradigm shift in how we approach app development. By leveraging the power of AI and video analysis, Replay empowers developers to:

• •Rapidly prototype new apps
• •Recreate existing apps with ease
• •Analyze competitor apps
• •Accelerate development cycles

⚠️ Warning: While Replay automates much of the development process, it's essential to have a solid understanding of React Native and backend development principles to customize and maintain the generated code.

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 for the most up-to-date information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to accelerate UI development, Replay distinguishes itself by analyzing video input and focusing on behavior-driven reconstruction. v0.dev primarily relies on text prompts and generates UI components based on descriptions. Replay understands how an app is used, not just what it looks like.

What kind of videos work best with Replay?#

Videos with clear and consistent user interactions produce the best results. Avoid videos with excessive camera movement, poor lighting, or cluttered screens. Focus on capturing specific user flows and functionalities.

What if Replay misinterprets something in the video?#

Replay provides tools for reviewing and refining the reconstruction. You can manually correct any misinterpretations or inconsistencies. The more you refine the reconstruction, the more accurate the generated code will be.

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