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January 4, 20267 min readReplay AI: How

Replay AI: How to Generate Production-Ready React Code from Video

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay AI transforms video recordings of user interfaces into production-ready React code, understanding user behavior instead of just visual elements.

The dream of effortlessly translating design concepts into functional code is closer than ever. Screenshot-to-code tools have scratched the surface, but they often fall short when it comes to capturing the intent behind user interactions. What if you could simply record a video of someone using an interface, and have that video automatically generate clean, functional React code? That's the power of Replay.

Introducing Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay leverages the power of Gemini to analyze video recordings of user interfaces. But it's not just about recognizing pixels; it's about understanding behavior. We call this "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction." Instead of simply converting static images into code, Replay analyzes the sequence of actions, button clicks, form submissions, and page transitions within the video. This deeper understanding allows Replay to generate more accurate, robust, and maintainable React code.

Consider the limitations of screenshot-to-code tools:

FeatureScreenshot-to-CodeReplay
Input TypeStatic ImagesVideo Recordings
Behavior Analysis
Multi-Page SupportLimitedFull
Understanding User Flow
Accuracy of Code GenerationLowerHigher
Code MaintainabilityLowerHigher

Replay goes beyond simple visual replication. It aims to understand why a user is interacting with the interface in a specific way, resulting in code that reflects the intended functionality.

Key Features of Replay#

Replay isn't just another code generation tool; it's a complete platform for rapidly prototyping and building user interfaces:

  • Multi-Page Generation: Replay can analyze videos spanning multiple pages and components, generating complete application flows.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate your generated code with Supabase for backend functionality and data management.
  • Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of your components with CSS-in-JS solutions like Styled Components or Emotion.
  • Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flows captured in your videos, providing a clear overview of the application's structure.

Generating React Code from Video: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Ready to see Replay in action? Here's a step-by-step guide to generating production-ready React code from a video recording:

Step 1: Record Your User Interface#

The first step is to record a video of someone interacting with the user interface you want to recreate. Make sure the video is clear and captures all relevant actions, including:

  • Page transitions
  • Button clicks
  • Form submissions
  • Scrolling
  • Hover effects

💡 Pro Tip: A well-structured video is crucial for accurate code generation. Plan your recording to showcase the key functionalities of your application.

Step 2: Upload Your Video to Replay#

Navigate to the Replay platform and upload your video recording. Replay supports various video formats, including MP4, MOV, and AVI.

Step 3: Configure Replay Settings#

Once your video is uploaded, you can configure various settings to customize the code generation process:

  • Framework: Select React as your target framework.
  • Styling: Choose your preferred styling solution (e.g., Styled Components, Emotion, CSS Modules).
  • Component Structure: Specify how you want Replay to structure your components (e.g., by page, by feature).
  • Supabase Integration: Enable Supabase integration and provide your Supabase API key and URL.

Step 4: Generate Your Code#

Click the "Generate Code" button to start the code generation process. Replay will analyze your video, identify user interactions, and generate React code based on your configured settings. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the length and complexity of your video.

Step 5: Review and Refine Your Code#

Once the code generation is complete, you can review the generated code in the Replay editor. The editor allows you to:

  • Inspect the generated components
  • Edit the code directly
  • Preview the application
  • Download the code as a ZIP file

📝 Note: While Replay strives for accuracy, you may need to refine the generated code to meet your specific requirements.

Step 6: Integrate with Your Project#

Download the generated code and integrate it into your existing React project. You can then further customize the components, add additional functionality, and deploy your application.

Example: Generating a Simple Form#

Let's say you have a video recording of a user filling out a simple form with the following fields:

  • Name
  • Email
  • Message

Replay can automatically generate the following React code:

typescript
// ContactForm.tsx import React, { useState } from 'react'; import styled from 'styled-components'; const FormContainer = styled.form` display: flex; flex-direction: column; max-width: 400px; margin: 0 auto; `; const Input = styled.input` padding: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; `; const TextArea = styled.textarea` padding: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; resize: vertical; `; const Button = styled.button` padding: 10px 20px; background-color: #007bff; color: white; border: none; border-radius: 4px; cursor: pointer; &:hover { background-color: #0056b3; } `; const ContactForm: React.FC = () => { const [name, setName] = useState(''); const [email, setEmail] = useState(''); const [message, setMessage] = useState(''); const handleSubmit = (e: React.FormEvent) => { e.preventDefault(); // Handle form submission logic here console.log('Form submitted:', { name, email, message }); }; return ( <FormContainer onSubmit={handleSubmit}> <label htmlFor="name">Name:</label> <Input type="text" id="name" value={name} onChange={(e) => setName(e.target.value)} placeholder="Your Name" /> <label htmlFor="email">Email:</label> <Input type="email" id="email" value={email} onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)} placeholder="Your Email" /> <label htmlFor="message">Message:</label> <TextArea id="message" value={message} onChange={(e) => setMessage(e.target.value)} placeholder="Your Message" rows={5} /> <Button type="submit">Submit</Button> </FormContainer> ); }; export default ContactForm;

This is just a basic example, but Replay can handle much more complex user interfaces and interactions.

Advantages of Using Replay#

  • Rapid Prototyping: Quickly generate code from video recordings, accelerating the prototyping process.
  • Improved Accuracy: Behavior-driven reconstruction leads to more accurate and functional code.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Share video recordings with your team and generate code collaboratively.
  • Reduced Development Time: Automate the code generation process, freeing up developers to focus on more complex tasks.
  • Understand User Intent: Replay captures user behavior, providing valuable insights into how users interact with your application.

⚠️ Warning: Replay is a powerful tool, but it's not a replacement for skilled developers. You'll still need to review and refine the generated code to ensure it meets your specific requirements.

Integrating with Supabase#

Replay makes it easy to integrate your generated React code with Supabase, a popular open-source Firebase alternative. By enabling Supabase integration, Replay can automatically generate code for:

  • Authenticating users
  • Reading and writing data to your Supabase database
  • Handling file uploads

This seamless integration significantly simplifies the process of building full-stack applications with React and Supabase.

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.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to generate code, Replay uses video as input and focuses on understanding user behavior. V0.dev primarily relies on text prompts and generates code based on a predefined set of components. Replay's behavior-driven approach allows it to capture more complex interactions and generate more accurate code.

What types of videos can Replay process?#

Replay supports various video formats, including MP4, MOV, and AVI. The video should be clear and capture all relevant user interactions.

Can Replay generate code for mobile applications?#

Currently, Replay primarily focuses on generating code for web applications. Support for mobile application development is planned for future releases.

What styling solutions does Replay support?#

Replay supports various styling solutions, including Styled Components, Emotion, CSS Modules, and plain CSS. You can choose your preferred styling solution during the code generation process.


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

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