TL;DR: Replay leverages video analysis and Gemini to reconstruct fully functional React applications from screen recordings, offering a behavior-driven alternative to traditional screenshot-to-code tools.
Replay AI: Convert a Video of an Existing App into a Modern React Application (2026)#
The future of UI development isn't about static mockups; it's about understanding user behavior. Existing screenshot-to-code tools are limited because they only capture visual elements. They don't understand the intent behind the user's actions. What if you could record a video of an existing application and have it automatically converted into a fully functional, modern React application? That's the promise of Replay.
Replay utilizes advanced video analysis combined with the power of Gemini to reconstruct UIs based on behavior-driven reconstruction. It analyzes user interactions, understands the flow of the application, and generates clean, maintainable React code. This approach surpasses traditional methods, providing a faster, more accurate, and ultimately more useful solution for developers.
The Problem with Screenshot-to-Code#
Screenshot-to-code tools have their place, but they fall short when it comes to complex applications. They essentially create a static representation of the UI, lacking the dynamic behavior and underlying logic. Imagine trying to recreate a multi-step form or a complex data visualization using only screenshots. The result would be a fragmented and incomplete representation of the original application.
Furthermore, screenshot-to-code tools often struggle with:
- •Dynamic Content: Handling data that changes based on user input or external sources.
- •Interactive Elements: Replicating the functionality of buttons, links, and other interactive components.
- •Complex Logic: Understanding and recreating the underlying business logic of the application.
Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#
Replay takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of relying on static images, it analyzes video recordings of the application in action. This allows Replay to:
- •Understand User Intent: By observing user interactions, Replay can infer the purpose behind each action and reconstruct the application's flow accordingly.
- •Capture Dynamic Behavior: Replay can track changes in the UI over time, allowing it to accurately represent dynamic content and interactive elements.
- •Generate Functional Code: Replay doesn't just create a visual representation of the UI; it generates fully functional React code that can be easily integrated into existing projects.
| Feature | Screenshot-to-Code | Replay |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Screenshots | Video |
| Behavior Analysis | Limited | Comprehensive |
| Code Quality | Often messy | Clean, Maintainable |
| Dynamic Content | Poor Support | Excellent Support |
| Integration | Difficult | Seamless |
Key Features of Replay#
Replay offers a range of features designed to streamline the UI reconstruction process:
- •Multi-Page Generation: Reconstruct entire applications with multiple pages and complex navigation flows.
- •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase to manage data and authentication.
- •Style Injection: Automatically apply styles to the generated code, ensuring a consistent look and feel.
- •Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flow through the application, making it easier to understand and modify.
Building a React App from Video with Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#
Let's walk through the process of using Replay to convert a video of an existing app into a modern React application.
Step 1: Recording the Application#
The first step is to record a video of the application you want to reconstruct. Focus on capturing the key user flows and interactions. Make sure the video is clear and easy to follow.
💡 Pro Tip: Use a screen recording tool that captures mouse movements and clicks. This will provide Replay with valuable information about user interactions.
Step 2: Uploading the Video to Replay#
Once you have recorded the video, upload it to Replay. Replay will automatically analyze the video and begin the reconstruction process.
Step 3: Reviewing the Generated Code#
After the analysis is complete, Replay will generate the React code for the application. Review the code to ensure that it accurately reflects the original application.
📝 Note: Replay's code generation is highly accurate, but you may need to make minor adjustments to fine-tune the application.
Step 4: Integrating with Supabase (Optional)#
If your application uses a database, you can integrate Replay with Supabase. This will allow Replay to automatically generate the necessary code for interacting with your database.
Step 5: Deploying the Application#
Once you are satisfied with the generated code, you can deploy the application to your hosting platform of choice.
Code Example: Fetching Data from Supabase#
Here's an example of how Replay can generate code for fetching data from Supabase:
typescript// Function to fetch products from Supabase const fetchProducts = async () => { const { data, error } = await supabase .from('products') .select('*'); if (error) { console.error('Error fetching products:', error); return []; } return data; }; // Example usage const ProductList = () => { const [products, setProducts] = React.useState([]); React.useEffect(() => { fetchProducts().then(setProducts); }, []); return ( <ul> {products.map((product) => ( <li key={product.id}>{product.name} - ${product.price}</li> ))} </ul> ); };
This code snippet demonstrates how Replay can generate code that seamlessly integrates with Supabase, allowing you to easily fetch and display data in your React application.
Style Injection Example: Applying a Theme#
Replay also supports style injection, allowing you to apply a consistent theme to your generated application. For example, you could inject a CSS file that defines the colors, fonts, and spacing of your application.
css/* Example CSS file for styling the application */ body { font-family: sans-serif; background-color: #f0f0f0; } button { background-color: #007bff; color: white; padding: 10px 20px; border: none; border-radius: 5px; cursor: pointer; }
Replay will automatically apply these styles to the generated React components, ensuring a consistent look and feel.
⚠️ Warning: While Replay strives for accuracy, always review the generated code and make necessary adjustments to ensure it meets your specific requirements.
The Future of UI Development#
Replay represents a significant step forward in the evolution of UI development. By leveraging video analysis and behavior-driven reconstruction, Replay offers a faster, more accurate, and more intuitive way to create modern React applications. As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect even more powerful tools like Replay to emerge, further streamlining the development process and empowering developers to build better applications faster.
Benefits of Using Replay#
- •Accelerated Development: Generate functional React code from video recordings in seconds.
- •Improved Accuracy: Capture dynamic behavior and user intent for more accurate UI reconstruction.
- •Seamless Integration: Integrate with Supabase and other popular tools for a streamlined workflow.
- •Enhanced Collaboration: Share product flow maps with your team to facilitate collaboration and communication.
- •Reduced Costs: Automate the UI development process and reduce the need for manual coding.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Is Replay free to use?#
Replay offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans are available for users who require more features and higher usage limits. Check the Replay website for the most up-to-date pricing information.
How is Replay different from v0.dev?#
While both Replay and v0.dev aim to accelerate UI development, they differ significantly in their approach. v0.dev relies on AI-powered code generation based on text prompts. Replay, on the other hand, uses video analysis to reconstruct UIs based on observed user behavior. This behavior-driven approach allows Replay to capture dynamic content and user intent more accurately than text-based code generation tools.
What types of applications can Replay reconstruct?#
Replay can reconstruct a wide range of applications, including web applications, mobile applications, and desktop applications. The only requirement is that you have a video recording of the application in action.
What if the video quality is poor?#
Replay uses advanced video processing techniques to handle videos of varying quality. However, better video quality will generally result in more accurate code generation.
Can I edit the generated code?#
Yes, you can edit the generated code using any code editor. Replay generates clean, well-structured React code that is easy to understand and modify.
Ready to try behavior-driven code generation? Get started with Replay - transform any video into working code in seconds.