Replay AI for generating documentation from UI videos: step-by-step guide

TL;DR: Generate comprehensive, interactive documentation from UI screen recordings using Replay AI, automating a traditionally tedious and error-prone process.

Creating accurate and up-to-date documentation for user interfaces is a constant struggle. Manually writing and maintaining documentation is time-consuming, error-prone, and often lags behind the actual product. What if you could generate documentation directly from user interaction videos? Replay offers a revolutionary approach to documentation, leveraging AI to analyze video recordings of UI interactions and automatically reconstruct working code and interactive documentation.

The Documentation Bottleneck#

Traditional documentation methods are fraught with challenges:

• •Time-Consuming: Writing documentation is a significant time investment for developers and technical writers.
• •Error-Prone: Manual documentation is susceptible to human error, leading to inaccuracies.
• •Outdated Information: Documentation quickly becomes outdated as the UI evolves, requiring constant updates.
• •Lack of Engagement: Static documentation often fails to engage users, hindering their understanding of the UI.

Tools like screenshot-to-code generators offer a partial solution, but they only capture the visual aspect of the UI. They miss the crucial context of how users interact with the interface. This is where Replay steps in, providing a comprehensive solution by analyzing video to reconstruct working code and interactive documentation.

Introducing Replay: Behavior-Driven Documentation#

Replay uses a novel approach called "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction." Instead of relying on static screenshots, Replay analyzes video recordings of user interactions to understand the behavior of the UI. This allows Replay to:

• •Generate working code that accurately reflects the UI's functionality.
• •Create interactive documentation that allows users to explore the UI in a hands-on manner.
• •Automatically update documentation as the UI evolves, ensuring accuracy and relevance.

How Replay Works#

Replay leverages the power of Gemini to understand user intent from video recordings. It breaks down the process into several key steps:

1. •Video Analysis: Replay analyzes the video to identify UI elements, user actions (clicks, scrolls, form submissions), and state changes.
2. •Behavioral Understanding: The AI engine interprets the sequence of actions to understand the user's intent and the UI's behavior.
3. •Code Reconstruction: Replay reconstructs the UI code based on the analyzed behavior, generating clean and functional code.
4. •Documentation Generation: Replay automatically generates documentation from the reconstructed code, including interactive elements and usage examples.

Step-by-Step Guide: Generating Documentation with Replay#

Let's walk through the process of generating documentation from a UI video using Replay.

Step 1: Recording the UI Interaction#

First, record a video of yourself interacting with the UI you want to document. Ensure the video clearly captures all relevant actions and state changes. This video becomes the source of truth for Replay.

💡 Pro Tip: Use a screen recording tool that captures mouse clicks and keyboard inputs for enhanced clarity.

Step 2: Uploading the Video to Replay#

Upload the recorded video to the Replay platform. Replay supports various video formats and resolutions.

Step 3: Configuring Replay Settings#

Configure the Replay settings to optimize the documentation generation process. Key settings include:

• •Target Framework: Specify the target framework for code generation (e.g., React, Vue, Angular).
• •Output Format: Choose the desired documentation output format (e.g., Markdown, HTML, interactive documentation).
• •Style Injection: Specify a CSS file or styling approach to apply to the generated code.

Step 4: Generating the Documentation#

Initiate the documentation generation process. Replay will analyze the video and reconstruct the UI code and documentation. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of the video.

Step 5: Reviewing and Customizing the Documentation#

Review the generated documentation and make any necessary customizations. Replay provides tools for editing the generated code, adding annotations, and refining the interactive elements.

typescript
// Example: Adding a description to a component
/**
 * @description This component displays a user's profile information.
 * @param {string} username - The username of the user.
 * @param {string} avatarUrl - The URL of the user's avatar image.
 */
const UserProfile = ({ username, avatarUrl }: { username: string; avatarUrl: string }) => {
  return (
    <div>
      <img src={avatarUrl} alt="User Avatar" />
      <h2>{username}</h2>
    </div>
  );
};

Step 6: Publishing the Documentation#

Publish the finalized documentation to your desired platform. Replay supports various publishing options, including:

• •Direct export to Markdown or HTML files.
• •Integration with documentation platforms like GitBook and Read the Docs.
• •Hosting on Replay's platform for easy sharing.

Replay vs. Traditional Documentation Methods#

Let's compare Replay with traditional documentation methods:

As the table illustrates, Replay offers significant advantages over traditional documentation methods and even screenshot-to-code tools. Its behavior-driven approach ensures greater accuracy, reduces time investment, and enhances user engagement.

Addressing Common Concerns#

You might have some questions about using Replay for documentation. Let's address some common concerns:

• •Video Quality: Replay requires clear video recordings to accurately analyze the UI. Ensure the video resolution is high enough and the UI elements are clearly visible.
• •Complex Interactions: Replay excels at capturing complex interactions and state changes, but extremely intricate scenarios may require manual adjustments.
• •Privacy: Replay prioritizes user privacy. Video recordings are processed securely and are not shared with third parties without your consent.

⚠️ Warning: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to record and process videos of the UI. Comply with all applicable privacy regulations.

Advanced Features: Beyond Basic Documentation#

Replay offers several advanced features that extend its capabilities beyond basic documentation:

• •Multi-Page Generation: Replay can analyze videos that span multiple pages or screens, generating comprehensive documentation for entire product flows.
• •Supabase Integration: Replay can integrate with Supabase to generate documentation that includes backend data and API interactions.
• •Product Flow Maps: Replay can automatically generate product flow maps that visualize the user journey through the UI.

javascript
// Example: Fetching data from Supabase
import { createClient } from '@supabase/supabase-js'

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

async function fetchProducts() {
  const { data: products, error } = await supabase
    .from('products')
    .select('*')

  if (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching products:", error);
    return [];
  }

  return products;
}

// Example usage within a component (assuming React)
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>
  );
};

📝 Note: Supabase integration requires configuring the Supabase client with your project's URL and API key.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features and usage. Paid plans are available for users who require more advanced 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 in their approach. v0.dev generates UI components based on text prompts, while Replay reconstructs UI from video recordings of actual user interactions. Replay focuses on capturing real-world usage patterns and generating accurate, behavior-driven code.

What types of UIs can Replay document?#

Replay can document a wide range of UIs, including web applications, mobile apps, and desktop applications. It supports various frameworks and libraries, including React, Vue, Angular, and more.

How accurate is the generated documentation?#

Replay's behavior-driven approach ensures a high level of accuracy. However, the accuracy depends on the quality of the video recording and the complexity of the UI. Reviewing and customizing the generated documentation is recommended to ensure it meets your specific needs.

What if the UI changes after I generate the documentation?#

Replay makes it easy to update your documentation. Simply record a new video of the updated UI and regenerate the documentation. Replay will automatically incorporate the changes, ensuring your documentation remains up-to-date.

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