TL;DR: Replay lets you generate working UI code from screen recordings, understanding user behavior and intent beyond static screenshots.
Imagine being able to instantly translate a complex user flow into functional code, simply by recording a video. That's the power of Replay. We're moving beyond static screenshot-to-code solutions and embracing Behavior-Driven Reconstruction, using video as the single source of truth for generating interactive UIs.
The Problem with Screenshot-to-Code#
Screenshot-to-code tools are a good start, but they fundamentally miss the point. They analyze static images, failing to capture the dynamic nature of user interaction and application logic. This results in code that might look right but lacks the crucial behavioral context to actually work correctly.
Consider a multi-step form. A screenshot-to-code tool sees individual form fields. It doesn't understand the validation rules, the dependencies between fields, or the overall flow of the form submission process. This leads to fragmented, incomplete code that requires significant manual intervention.
Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#
Replay addresses this limitation by analyzing video recordings of user interactions. This allows us to understand:
- •User intent: What is the user trying to achieve?
- •Application state: How does the application respond to user actions?
- •Data flow: How is data being entered, validated, and processed?
This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" approach results in code that not only looks like the original UI but also behaves like it. Replay isn't just about visual fidelity; it's about functional accuracy.
Key Features of Replay#
Replay offers a range of features designed to streamline the UI generation process:
- •Multi-page Generation: Generate code for entire product flows, not just single screens.
- •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly connect your generated UI to your Supabase backend.
- •Style Injection: Customize the look and feel of your UI with CSS or Tailwind.
- •Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user journey and the generated code for each step.
💡 Pro Tip: Use clear, concise video recordings to maximize the accuracy of Replay's code generation. Focus on demonstrating the key user flows and interactions.
How Replay Works: A Step-by-Step Example#
Let's walk through a simple example of using Replay to generate code for a basic login form.
Step 1: Record Your Screen#
Record a video of yourself interacting with the login form. Make sure to:
- •Show the entire form, including input fields and buttons.
- •Enter valid and invalid credentials to demonstrate validation.
- •Click the "Login" button and show the resulting page or error message.
Step 2: Upload to Replay#
Upload the video recording to Replay. Our AI engine will analyze the video and identify the UI elements, user interactions, and application logic.
Step 3: Review and Refine#
Replay generates a code preview. Review the code to ensure accuracy and make any necessary adjustments. You can edit the generated code directly within Replay's interface.
Step 4: Export and Integrate#
Export the generated code as React, Vue, or other popular frameworks. Integrate the code into your existing project.
typescript// Example React component generated by Replay import React, { useState } from 'react'; const LoginForm = () => { const [username, setUsername] = useState(''); const [password, setPassword] = useState(''); const [error, setError] = useState(''); const handleSubmit = async (e) => { e.preventDefault(); // Simulate API call const response = await fetch('/api/login', { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', }, body: JSON.stringify({ username, password }), }); const data = await response.json(); if (data.success) { // Redirect to dashboard window.location.href = '/dashboard'; } else { setError(data.message); } }; return ( <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}> {error && <p style={{ color: 'red' }}>{error}</p>} <label htmlFor="username">Username:</label> <input type="text" id="username" value={username} onChange={(e) => setUsername(e.target.value)} /> <label htmlFor="password">Password:</label> <input type="password" id="password" value={password} onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)} /> <button type="submit">Login</button> </form> ); }; export default LoginForm;
📝 Note: The generated code may require some adjustments to fit your specific project requirements. Replay provides a solid foundation, but you'll likely need to customize the code to integrate it seamlessly with your existing codebase.
Replay vs. The Competition#
Let's compare Replay to other code generation tools:
| Feature | Screenshot-to-Code | Figma-to-Code | Replay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input Type | Static Images | Design Files | Video Recordings |
| Behavior Analysis | ❌ | Limited | ✅ |
| Multi-page Support | Limited | Partial | ✅ |
| Supabase Integration | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Code Accuracy | Low | Medium | High |
| Learning Curve | Low | Medium | Low |
| Understanding User Flow | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Generates Functional Code | Partially | Partially | Fully Functional |
As you can see, Replay stands out by its ability to analyze video recordings and generate fully functional code that captures user behavior and application logic.
⚠️ Warning: Replay requires clear, high-quality video recordings to achieve optimal results. Avoid blurry or shaky videos, and ensure that all UI elements are clearly visible.
Addressing Common Concerns#
- •Privacy: We understand the importance of data privacy. Replay processes video recordings securely and does not store any sensitive information.
- •Accuracy: While Replay strives for 100% accuracy, the generated code may require some manual adjustments. The quality of the video recording directly impacts the accuracy of the generated code.
- •Complexity: Replay can handle complex UI flows, but it's best to break down large, complex applications into smaller, manageable video recordings.
Beyond the Basics: Advanced Use Cases#
Replay isn't just for simple login forms. Here are some advanced use cases:
- •E-commerce checkout flows: Generate code for entire checkout processes, including address validation, payment processing, and order confirmation.
- •Data-driven dashboards: Reconstruct interactive dashboards with charts, tables, and filters.
- •Mobile app prototypes: Quickly create working prototypes of mobile apps from screen recordings.
- •Automated Testing: Generate UI tests based on observed user behaviors.
javascript// Example of 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); const fetchData = async () => { const { data, error } = await supabase .from('your_table') .select('*'); if (error) { console.error('Error fetching data:', error); return []; } return data; }; export default fetchData;
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.
How is Replay different from v0.dev?#
v0.dev uses AI to generate UI components based on text prompts. Replay, on the other hand, generates code from video recordings, capturing user behavior and application logic. Replay focuses on reconstructing existing UIs, while v0.dev focuses on creating new UIs from scratch.
What frameworks are supported?#
Replay currently supports React, Vue, and HTML/CSS. Support for other frameworks is planned for the future.
What kind of videos work best?#
Clear, high-resolution videos with minimal background noise work best. Make sure to clearly demonstrate the user flow and interactions you want to capture.
Can Replay generate backend code?#
Currently, Replay focuses on generating frontend UI code. However, we are exploring the possibility of generating backend code in the future, particularly for simple CRUD operations.
How does Replay handle sensitive data in videos?#
Replay is designed to avoid capturing or storing sensitive data. It focuses on analyzing UI interactions and application logic, rather than the specific data being entered. However, it's important to avoid including sensitive information in your video recordings.
Ready to try behavior-driven code generation? Get started with Replay - transform any video into working code in seconds.