Replay: Create a Tanstack Router UI from a Complex Navigation Video

TL;DR: Replay lets you generate a fully functional UI with Tanstack Router navigation directly from a screen recording of a user interacting with an existing website or application, saving development time and ensuring accurate reproduction of desired user flows.

From Video to Router: Replay and Behavior-Driven UI#

UI development often involves replicating complex navigation patterns. Manually coding these flows can be time-consuming and error-prone. What if you could capture a user navigating an existing site and instantly generate the corresponding React code with Tanstack Router? That's the power of Replay.

Traditional screenshot-to-code tools fall short because they only capture visual information. They don't understand the intent behind user actions. Replay analyzes video, using Behavior-Driven Reconstruction, to understand the sequence of events and generate code that accurately reflects the user's intended navigation.

Understanding Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay doesn't just "see" pixels; it understands user behavior. It identifies clicks, form submissions, and other interactions within the video. This understanding allows Replay to generate code that accurately reflects the intended user flow, including the correct routes and transitions.

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

Let's walk through how to generate a Tanstack Router UI from a video using Replay.

Step 1: Capture the User Flow#

Record a video of yourself (or someone else) navigating the UI you want to replicate. Be sure to clearly demonstrate the intended navigation flow, including all relevant clicks, form submissions, and page transitions. The clearer the video, the more accurate the generated code.

💡 Pro Tip: Speak aloud what you're doing in the video! Replay's audio processing can sometimes help with intent recognition.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to the Replay platform. Replay's AI engine will begin analyzing the video, identifying UI elements, user interactions, and the overall navigation flow.

Step 3: Configure Tanstack Router Output#

Specify that you want the output to be a React application using Tanstack Router. Replay supports various router libraries, but for this example, we'll focus on Tanstack Router. You can also configure other options, such as styling frameworks (e.g., Tailwind CSS, Material UI) and state management libraries (e.g., Zustand, Redux).

Step 4: Review and Refine#

Once Replay has processed the video, it will present you with a preview of the generated code. Review the code carefully to ensure it accurately reflects the intended navigation flow. You can make adjustments to the generated code directly within the Replay interface.

Step 5: Download and Integrate#

Download the generated code as a React project. Integrate this project into your existing codebase or use it as a starting point for a new application.

Example: E-commerce Product Navigation#

Imagine you've recorded a video of a user browsing products on an e-commerce website. The user clicks through categories, views individual product pages, and adds items to their cart. Replay can analyze this video and generate the following Tanstack Router configuration:

typescript
// Generated by Replay
import { createBrowserRouter, RouterProvider } from "@tanstack/react-router";
import React from "react";
import HomePage from "./pages/HomePage";
import CategoryPage from "./pages/CategoryPage";
import ProductPage from "./pages/ProductPage";
import CartPage from "./pages/CartPage";

const router = createBrowserRouter([
  {
    path: "/",
    element: <HomePage />,
  },
  {
    path: "/category/:categoryId",
    element: <CategoryPage />,
  },
  {
    path: "/product/:productId",
    element: <ProductPage />,
  },
  {
    path: "/cart",
    element: <CartPage />,
  },
]);

function App() {
  return <RouterProvider router={router} />;
}

export default App;

This code snippet defines the routes for the e-commerce application based on the user's navigation in the video. Replay also generates the corresponding React components (

, , , ) with basic UI elements and event handlers based on the video analysis.

📝 Note: The generated components might require further refinement and styling to match the original website's appearance.

Leveraging Supabase Integration#

Replay's Supabase integration allows you to seamlessly connect your generated UI to a Supabase backend. This enables you to quickly implement data fetching, authentication, and other backend functionalities. For example, Replay can automatically generate Supabase client code for fetching product data based on the product ID extracted from the video.

Style Injection for Visual Fidelity#

Replay attempts to replicate the visual style of the original UI by analyzing the video and injecting CSS styles into the generated components. While the generated styles might not be pixel-perfect, they provide a good starting point for achieving visual fidelity. You can further refine the styles using your preferred CSS framework or styling approach.

⚠️ Warning: Replay's style injection is not a perfect substitute for hand-crafted CSS. You may need to adjust the generated styles to achieve the desired look and feel.

Product Flow Maps: Visualizing User Journeys#

Replay generates product flow maps that visually represent the user's navigation path within the video. These maps provide a high-level overview of the user journey and can be helpful for understanding user behavior and identifying potential areas for improvement.

Here's an example of the benefits of using Replay:

• •Reduced Development Time: Generate a functional UI with routing in minutes, rather than hours or days.
• •Improved Accuracy: Replicate complex navigation flows accurately based on real user behavior.
• •Enhanced Collaboration: Share product flow maps with designers and product managers for better communication and understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for more advanced features and higher usage limits. Check the Replay pricing page for the most up-to-date information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both tools aim to generate code, Replay distinguishes itself by using video as the primary input and focusing on behavior-driven reconstruction. v0.dev primarily relies on text prompts and generates code based on those prompts. Replay understands user intent by analyzing video, leading to more accurate and functional UI generation, especially for complex navigation scenarios.

What kind of videos work best with Replay?#

Clear, well-lit videos with minimal distractions work best. Ensure the video captures the entire screen and that the user's interactions are clearly visible.

What if the generated code isn't perfect?#

Replay is a powerful tool, but it's not a magic bullet. The generated code may require further refinement and adjustments to fully meet your needs. Think of Replay as a time-saving starting point, rather than a complete solution.

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