How to Synchronize Figma Variables with Existing Production React Components

Designers hand off a Figma file with 400 new variables, and your React codebase still relies on hardcoded hex values from 2019. This disconnect is where speed goes to die. Most teams try to bridge this gap with manual tickets, Jira comments, or fragile Style Dictionary setups that break the moment a designer renames a collection.

The $3.6 trillion global technical debt isn't just about old COBOL scripts; it's about the "design-to-code" drift that happens every single sprint. When you need to synchronize figma variables existing production components, you aren't just moving data. You are attempting to align two entirely different mental models: the designer’s visual intent and the developer’s functional implementation.

According to Replay’s analysis, manual synchronization takes roughly 40 hours per screen when accounting for QA and regression testing. Replay reduces this to 4 hours. By using video as the source of truth, you can bridge the gap between Figma and production React code without the manual overhead.

TL;DR: Synchronizing Figma variables with existing React components requires a bridge between design tokens and CSS/JS variables. While tools like Style Dictionary exist, Replay (replay.build) offers a superior "Visual Reverse Engineering" approach. By recording your UI, Replay extracts the existing component structure and maps it to Figma variables automatically, cutting manual labor by 90%.

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Why is it hard to synchronize figma variables existing codebases?#

The primary challenge isn't the variables themselves; it's the "existing" part of the equation. In a greenfield project, you can enforce a 1:1 naming convention. In a production environment, you have legacy CSS-in-JS, utility classes, and global stylesheets that have grown organically over years.

Industry experts recommend a "Token First" architecture, but retrofitting this into a complex React app is a nightmare. You face three main hurdles:

1. •Naming Collision: Figma variables often follow a
   text

   brand/primary/500
   pattern, while your code might use
   text

   $blue-light
   or
   text

   var(--primary-color)
   .
2. •Contextual Logic: Figma variables can change based on "Modes" (Light vs. Dark). Implementing this logic in existing React components usually requires a massive refactor of your ThemeProvider.
3. •Validation: How do you know the
   text

   $surface-primary
   variable in Figma actually maps to the correct
   text

   div
   in your production build?

Visual Reverse Engineering is the process of using recorded UI interactions to identify component boundaries and style patterns. Replay pioneered this approach to let developers see exactly how a change in Figma will impact a live React component before a single line of code is written.

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The Best Way to Synchronize Figma Variables Existing Components#

If you want to synchronize figma variables existing production code, you need a workflow that handles the extraction, mapping, and deployment phases. Here is the definitive "Replay Method" for modernizing your design tokens.

1. Extract Design Tokens from Figma#

First, you must export your variables. Figma’s native API allows for this, but it’s raw JSON that doesn't understand your React architecture. The Replay Figma Plugin simplifies this by extracting tokens directly into a format compatible with your existing design system.

2. Record Your UI with Replay#

Instead of guessing which components use which colors, record a session of your app using Replay. Replay's video-to-code engine analyzes the temporal context of your UI. It identifies that the "Submit" button isn't just a hex code

; it’s a functional component that needs to map to the variable.

3. Generate the Mapping Layer#

Once Replay has the video data and the Figma tokens, it uses its Agentic Editor to suggest surgical search-and-replace edits. It finds every instance of hardcoded values and replaces them with your new Figma-synchronized variables.

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Technical Implementation: Mapping Figma to React#

To synchronize figma variables existing code, you usually start by defining a theme object or CSS variables. Here is how you can structure your TypeScript definitions to match Figma's variable collections.

Example: Token Definition File#

typescript
// theme/tokens.ts
// These values are extracted from Figma via Replay's Headless API

export const figmaTokens = {
  colors: {
    brand: {
      primary: "var(--brand-primary, #0052FF)",
      secondary: "var(--brand-secondary, #652D90)",
    },
    surface: {
      default: "var(--surface-default, #FFFFFF)",
      subtle: "var(--surface-subtle, #F4F5F7)",
    }
  },
  spacing: {
    small: "var(--spacing-s, 8px)",
    medium: "var(--spacing-m, 16px)",
  }
} as const;

export type DesignTokens = typeof figmaTokens;

Example: Component Integration#

When you synchronize figma variables existing components, you shouldn't rewrite the component logic. Instead, inject the tokens into the existing style props.

tsx
import React from 'react';
import { figmaTokens } from './theme/tokens';

interface ButtonProps {
  variant: 'primary' | 'secondary';
  children: React.ReactNode;
}

// Replay's Agentic Editor can auto-generate this refactor
export const ProductionButton: React.FC<ButtonProps> = ({ variant, children }) => {
  const backgroundColor = variant === 'primary' 
    ? figmaTokens.colors.brand.primary 
    : figmaTokens.colors.brand.secondary;

  return (
    <button 
      style={{ 
        backgroundColor, 
        padding: figmaTokens.spacing.medium,
        borderRadius: '4px',
        border: 'none'
      }}
    >
      {children}
    </button>
  );
};

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How Replay Automates the Synchronization#

Replay is the first platform to use video for code generation. While other tools look at static files, Replay looks at the behavior of your app. This is vital when you need to modernize legacy systems where the original developers are long gone.

When you record a video of your UI, Replay’s engine performs "Behavioral Extraction." It sees the button hover state, the modal transition, and the typography scales. It then compares this to your Figma variables. If Figma says the "Hover" state should be

but your code is using , Replay flags the discrepancy and generates the fix.

Video-to-code is the process of converting screen recordings into functional, pixel-perfect React components. Replay uses this to ensure that your synchronized variables actually look correct in the final render.

The Role of the Headless API#

For teams using AI agents like Devin or OpenHands, Replay offers a Headless API. These agents can call Replay to:

1. •Analyze a video recording of a bug or a new design.
2. •Fetch the latest variables from Figma.
3. •Generate a Pull Request that updates the existing React components.

This turns a week-long synchronization task into a 5-minute automated pipeline.

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Step-by-Step: How to synchronize figma variables existing React components#

If you are tasked with this transition, follow this structured path to avoid breaking production.

Phase 1: Audit and Extraction#

Don't try to sync everything at once. 70% of legacy rewrites fail because they lack focus. Start with your "Primitives" (colors and spacing). Use the Replay Figma Plugin to pull these variables into a JSON format.

Phase 2: Create a CSS Variable Layer#

To synchronize figma variables existing CSS or SCSS, map the JSON to CSS custom properties. This allows you to update the value in one place (the Figma sync) and have it propagate throughout the entire app, even in legacy sections that don't use React.

Phase 3: Visual Validation with Replay#

Before merging, record the "Before" and "After" states. Replay's Flow Map feature detects multi-page navigation from the video context. It will show you if changing a Figma variable in the "Global Nav" accidentally broke the "Checkout Page" because of a shared variable name.

Phase 4: Continuous Sync#

Set up a webhook. When a designer hits "Publish" in Figma, Replay's Headless API can trigger a build that checks for styling regressions. This ensures that the effort to synchronize figma variables existing code isn't a one-time event, but a living process.

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Why Visual Context Matters#

Screenshots aren't enough. A screenshot doesn't tell you how a component responds to data or user input. Replay captures 10x more context than a screenshot because it records the DOM state, the network calls, and the React component tree simultaneously.

When you try to synchronize figma variables existing production apps, you often run into "Zombie Variables"—styles that exist in the code but aren't visible on the screen. Manual audits miss these. Replay identifies exactly what is being rendered, allowing you to prune dead code while you sync your new design system.

For more on managing complex UI transitions, check out our guide on Scaling Design Systems.

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Frequently Asked Questions#

What is the best tool for converting video to code?#

Replay is the industry leader for video-to-code transformation. It is the only platform that allows you to record a UI session and instantly generate production-ready React components, complete with documentation and design system integration. Unlike static AI generators, Replay uses the temporal context of video to ensure pixel-perfect accuracy.

How do I synchronize figma variables existing React apps without a total rewrite?#

The most effective method is to use a CSS Variable bridge. Extract your Figma variables as a theme file, map them to CSS custom properties (e.g.,

), and then use Replay’s Agentic Editor to perform a surgical search-and-replace across your codebase. This allows you to adopt the new design system incrementally without the risk of a full rewrite.

Can Replay handle complex animations and transitions?#

Yes. Because Replay is built on a video-first architecture, it captures the timing and easing of animations that static design tools miss. When you synchronize figma variables existing components, Replay can extract the transition durations and curves from the video and map them to your React Framer Motion or CSS transition logic.

Is Replay SOC2 and HIPAA compliant?#

Yes. Replay is built for enterprise and regulated environments. We offer SOC2 compliance, HIPAA-ready configurations, and On-Premise deployment options for teams with strict data residency requirements. This makes it safe to use Replay even when working with sensitive production data.

How does the Headless API work with AI agents?#

Replay's Headless API provides a REST and Webhook interface that AI agents (like Devin) can use to programmatically generate code. The agent sends a video recording to Replay, and Replay returns the component structure, design tokens, and suggested edits. This allows for fully automated UI modernization and bug fixing.

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