Replay AI: Build production-ready UI from video using Typescript and React

TL;DR: Replay AI leverages video analysis to generate production-ready React and TypeScript UI code, understanding user behavior beyond simple screenshot conversions.

The dream of automatically generating UI code from visual representations has been around for a while. Screenshot-to-code tools offer a glimpse into the future, but they often fall short in capturing the intent behind user interactions. They only see a static image, not the dynamic flow of a user navigating an application. This is where Replay comes in, offering a fundamentally different approach: behavior-driven reconstruction.

Replay AI: Video as the Source of Truth#

Replay analyzes video recordings of user interactions to understand the why behind the what. By understanding user flows, button clicks, form submissions, and page transitions, Replay can generate more accurate and production-ready UI code. It's not just about recreating a visual layout; it's about replicating the user experience.

The Problem with Screenshot-to-Code#

Screenshot-to-code tools are limited by their input: static images. They can interpret visual elements, but they can't understand user behavior or application logic. This leads to several problems:

• •Lack of Context: A screenshot doesn't capture the state of the application before or after the image was taken.
• •Missing Interactions: Button clicks, form submissions, and other interactive elements are completely invisible.
• •Inability to Handle Dynamic Content: Screenshot-to-code struggles with content that changes based on user input or application state.

Replay's Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay addresses these limitations by using video as the primary input. This allows Replay to:

• •Analyze User Flows: Understand the sequence of actions a user takes to accomplish a task.
• •Identify Interactive Elements: Recognize buttons, links, forms, and other interactive components.
• •Reconstruct Application Logic: Infer the underlying logic that drives the UI.

This behavior-driven approach results in UI code that is not only visually accurate but also functionally correct.

Key Features of Replay#

Replay is packed with features designed to streamline the UI development process:

• •Multi-Page Generation: Replay can generate code for entire user flows, spanning multiple pages and interactions.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase for backend data and authentication.
• •Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of your UI with style injection.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize user flows and identify potential bottlenecks.

Let's compare Replay to other code generation tools:

Building a UI with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through a practical example of using Replay to build a simple React component from a video recording. We'll focus on generating a basic form with input fields and a submit button.

Step 1: Recording the User Flow#

First, record a video of yourself interacting with the desired UI. Make sure to clearly demonstrate the user flow you want to capture. For example, you might record yourself filling out a form and submitting it.

💡 Pro Tip: Speak clearly while recording. This helps Replay better understand the context of your actions.

Step 2: Uploading the Video to Replay#

Next, upload the video to the Replay platform. Replay will then analyze the video and generate the corresponding UI code. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of the video.

Step 3: Reviewing and Customizing the Generated Code#

Once the code generation is complete, you can review and customize the generated code. Replay provides a visual editor that allows you to make changes to the UI and see the corresponding code updates in real-time.

Here's an example of the generated React code for a simple form:

typescript
// Generated by Replay
import React, { useState } from 'react';

const MyForm = () => {
  const [name, setName] = useState('');
  const [email, setEmail] = useState('');

  const handleSubmit = (event: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) => {
    event.preventDefault();
    console.log('Form submitted:', { name, email });
    // Add your form submission logic here
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="name">Name:</label>
        <input
          type="text"
          id="name"
          value={name}
          onChange={(e) => setName(e.target.value)}
        />
      </div>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="email">Email:</label>
        <input
          type="email"
          id="email"
          value={email}
          onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)}
        />
      </div>
      <button type="submit">Submit</button>
    </form>
  );
};

export default MyForm;

Step 4: Integrating with Supabase (Optional)#

If you're using Supabase for your backend, you can easily integrate the generated code with your Supabase project. Replay provides built-in support for Supabase authentication and data storage.

To integrate with Supabase, you'll need to configure your Supabase credentials in the Replay settings. Once configured, you can use the Supabase client to interact with your Supabase database.

typescript
// Example of using Supabase with Replay-generated code
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js';

const supabaseUrl = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_URL;
const supabaseKey = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_SUPABASE_ANON_KEY;

const supabase = createClient(supabaseUrl, supabaseKey);

const handleSubmit = async (event: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) => {
  event.preventDefault();
  const { data, error } = await supabase
    .from('users')
    .insert([{ name, email }]);

  if (error) {
    console.error('Error inserting data:', error);
  } else {
    console.log('Data inserted successfully:', data);
  }
};

⚠️ Warning: Ensure your Supabase credentials are kept secure and are not exposed in your client-side code. Use environment variables to store sensitive information.

Step 5: Styling Your UI#

Replay allows you to inject custom styles into your generated UI. You can use CSS, Sass, or any other styling language to customize the look and feel of your components.

📝 Note: Replay intelligently applies styles based on the visual elements in the video. You can further refine these styles to match your design system.

Benefits of Using Replay#

Using Replay offers several key benefits:

• •Faster Development: Generate UI code in seconds, saving you valuable development time.
• •Improved Accuracy: Behavior-driven reconstruction ensures that the generated code accurately reflects user intent.
• •Reduced Errors: Automate the UI development process and reduce the risk of human error.
• •Enhanced Collaboration: Easily share video recordings and generated code with your team.
• •Focus on Logic: Spend less time on boilerplate UI code and more time on complex application logic.

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 website for the latest pricing information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to generate UI code, Replay distinguishes itself through its video-based approach. v0.dev and similar tools often rely on text prompts or visual mockups, whereas Replay analyzes real user interactions captured in video. This allows Replay to understand user behavior and generate more accurate and context-aware code.

What types of videos can Replay analyze?#

Replay can analyze a wide range of video formats, including screen recordings, webcam recordings, and mobile recordings. The video should clearly capture the user interactions you want to reconstruct.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Currently, Replay primarily focuses on generating React and TypeScript code. Support for other frameworks may be added in the future.

Can I use Replay to generate code for complex UIs?#

Yes, Replay is capable of generating code for complex UIs with multiple pages, interactions, and dynamic content. The more detailed and comprehensive the video recording, the better 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.