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January 5, 20267 min readReplay AI for

Replay AI for generating documentation using AI testing in 2026 for enterprise use

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay AI leverages video analysis to automatically generate accurate and maintainable UI documentation, significantly reducing manual effort and improving developer workflows in enterprise environments.

The Documentation Crisis: A 2026 Perspective#

In 2026, the software development landscape is even more complex than it is today. Microservices architectures, rapidly evolving JavaScript frameworks, and distributed teams have exacerbated the documentation crisis. Legacy documentation quickly becomes outdated, and developers spend countless hours manually updating it, diverting them from building new features. This problem is amplified in enterprise environments, where compliance, security, and scalability demands are paramount.

Traditional documentation approaches, like static site generators and manually written guides, simply can't keep pace. They are often incomplete, inaccurate, and fail to capture the dynamic nature of modern UIs. Screenshot-based documentation tools offer a partial solution, but they lack the crucial context of user behavior and intent.

Replay AI: Behavior-Driven Documentation Generation#

Replay AI offers a revolutionary approach to documentation generation by analyzing video recordings of user interactions. Unlike screenshot-to-code tools that merely translate visual elements, Replay AI understands the intent behind each action, reconstructing not just the UI, but also the underlying logic and data flow. This behavior-driven reconstruction ensures that the generated documentation accurately reflects the application's functionality and user experience.

How Replay AI Works#

Replay AI uses a multi-stage process to transform video into comprehensive documentation:

  1. Video Analysis: Replay AI analyzes video recordings of user sessions, identifying UI elements, user actions (clicks, form inputs, scrolling), and application state changes.

  2. Behavior Reconstruction: Using advanced AI models, including Gemini, Replay AI reconstructs the underlying logic and data flow associated with each user interaction. This includes identifying API calls, database queries, and state management updates.

  3. Documentation Generation: Replay AI generates documentation in various formats, including:

    • Interactive component libraries with live examples.
    • API documentation with request/response schemas.
    • User flow diagrams illustrating common user journeys.
    • Automated test cases to ensure documentation accuracy.

Key Features for Enterprise Documentation#

Replay AI provides several key features that make it ideal for enterprise documentation:

  • Multi-Page Generation: Replay AI can analyze complex, multi-page applications and generate documentation that accurately reflects the application's structure and navigation.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamless integration with Supabase allows Replay AI to automatically document database schemas, API endpoints, and data models.
  • Style Injection: Replay AI can inject custom styles into the generated documentation to match the enterprise's branding and design guidelines.
  • Product Flow Maps: Replay AI automatically generates product flow maps that visualize user journeys and highlight key interaction points.

A Practical Example: Documenting a User Authentication Flow#

Let's consider a common scenario: documenting a user authentication flow. Using Replay AI, we can simply record a video of a user logging in, registering, and resetting their password. Replay AI will then automatically generate the following documentation:

  1. Interactive Component Library: Replay AI generates interactive components for the login form, registration form, and password reset form. Developers can use these components to quickly prototype new features or debug existing ones.
typescript
// Example: Login Form Component (generated by Replay AI) import React, { useState } from 'react'; const LoginForm = () => { const [email, setEmail] = useState(''); const [password, setPassword] = useState(''); const handleSubmit = async (e) => { e.preventDefault(); // Authentication logic (reconstructed from video) const response = await fetch('/api/login', { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', }, body: JSON.stringify({ email, password }), }); const data = await response.json(); if (data.success) { // Redirect to dashboard window.location.href = '/dashboard'; } else { // Display error message alert(data.message); } }; return ( <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}> <input type="email" value={email} onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)} placeholder="Email" /> <input type="password" value={password} onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)} placeholder="Password" /> <button type="submit">Login</button> </form> ); }; export default LoginForm;
  1. API Documentation: Replay AI automatically documents the
    text
    /api/login
    endpoint, including the request body schema (email and password) and the response schema (success status and error message).
json
// Example: API Documentation (generated by Replay AI) { "endpoint": "/api/login", "method": "POST", "requestBody": { "type": "object", "properties": { "email": { "type": "string", "format": "email" }, "password": { "type": "string" } }, "required": ["email", "password"] }, "responseBody": { "type": "object", "properties": { "success": { "type": "boolean" }, "message": { "type": "string" } }, "required": ["success", "message"] } }
  1. User Flow Diagram: Replay AI generates a user flow diagram illustrating the login process, including the steps involved (entering credentials, submitting the form, receiving a response) and the potential outcomes (successful login, failed login).

Replay AI vs. Traditional Documentation Methods#

The following table compares Replay AI with traditional documentation methods:

FeatureManual DocumentationScreenshot-to-CodeReplay AI
Video Input
Behavior AnalysisPartial
Automated Updates
Interactive Examples
API Documentation
User Flow Diagrams
AccuracyLow (prone to errors)Medium (visual only)High (behavior-driven)
Maintenance EffortHighMediumLow

💡 Pro Tip: Use Replay AI in conjunction with your existing documentation tools to create a comprehensive and maintainable documentation system.

Benefits for Enterprise Use#

Replay AI offers several key benefits for enterprise documentation:

  • Reduced Manual Effort: Automates the documentation process, freeing up developers to focus on more strategic tasks.
  • Improved Accuracy: Ensures that the documentation accurately reflects the application's functionality and user experience.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Provides a shared understanding of the application's behavior among developers, testers, and product managers.
  • Faster Onboarding: Helps new team members quickly understand the application's architecture and functionality.
  • Compliance and Auditability: Provides a clear audit trail of application changes and documentation updates.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay AI automates much of the documentation process, it's still important to review and refine the generated documentation to ensure its accuracy and completeness.

Implementing Replay AI in Your Enterprise#

Here are the steps to implement Replay AI in your enterprise:

Step 1: Setup#

Install the Replay AI SDK in your application.

bash
npm install replay-ai-sdk

Step 2: Integration#

Initialize the SDK and start recording user sessions.

typescript
// Example: Initializing the Replay AI SDK import { ReplayAI } from 'replay-ai-sdk'; const replayAI = new ReplayAI({ apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY', environment: 'production', }); replayAI.startRecording();

Step 3: Documentation Generation#

Upload the recorded video to the Replay AI platform and generate the documentation.

typescript
// Example: Uploading a video to Replay AI const videoFile = document.getElementById('videoFile').files[0]; replayAI.uploadVideo(videoFile) .then(documentation => { // Display the generated documentation console.log(documentation); }) .catch(error => { console.error(error); });

📝 Note: Replay AI offers a variety of customization options to tailor the generated documentation to your specific needs.

Addressing Common Concerns#

  • Security: Replay AI uses end-to-end encryption to protect user data and ensure compliance with privacy regulations.
  • Performance: Replay AI is designed to minimize its impact on application performance.
  • Scalability: Replay AI can scale to handle the documentation needs of even the largest enterprise applications.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay AI free to use?#

Replay AI offers a free tier for small projects and paid plans for larger enterprises. The pricing depends on the number of videos analyzed and the features used.

How is Replay AI different from screenshot-to-code tools?#

Replay AI analyzes video recordings to understand user behavior and intent, while screenshot-to-code tools merely translate visual elements. This behavior-driven approach allows Replay AI to generate more accurate and maintainable documentation.

Can Replay AI document legacy applications?#

Yes, Replay AI can document legacy applications by analyzing video recordings of user interactions. However, the accuracy of the generated documentation may depend on the quality of the video and the complexity of the application.

What types of applications can Replay AI document?#

Replay AI can document a wide variety of applications, including web applications, mobile applications, and desktop applications.


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