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January 17, 20267 min readReplay: Generating UI

Replay: Generating UI from Code Walkthroughs and Tutorials

R
Replay Team
Developer Advocates

TL;DR: Replay generates working UI code directly from video walkthroughs and tutorials, enabling rapid prototyping and code replication by understanding user behavior.

Stop Manually Rebuilding UI: Replay Understands Your Videos#

How much time do you waste watching a tutorial, then painstakingly recreating the UI elements and logic? Hours, right? We've all been there. The problem isn't just the tedium; it's the potential for errors, the lost productivity, and the sheer frustration. You're essentially acting as a human compiler, translating visual instructions into code.

What if you could simply show a tool how you want your UI to look and function, and it would generate the code for you? That's the power of Replay.

Replay is a video-to-code engine that uses Gemini's advanced AI to analyze screen recordings and reconstruct functional UI. It's not just about recognizing pixels; it's about understanding user behavior. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" approach allows Replay to accurately translate your intentions into clean, working code.

The Limitations of Screenshot-to-Code#

The current landscape is dominated by screenshot-to-code tools. These tools are limited because they only see a static image. They can't understand the sequence of actions, the flow of data, or the underlying logic that drives the UI.

FeatureScreenshot-to-CodeReplay
Input TypeStatic ScreenshotsVideo
Behavior Analysis
Multi-Page SupportLimited
Understanding User Intent
Code AccuracyLowerHigher
Dynamic UI Reconstruction

Replay overcomes these limitations by analyzing the entire video, treating it as the single source of truth for the desired UI. This allows Replay to generate more accurate, functional, and maintainable code.

Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: The Replay Advantage#

Replay's core innovation lies in its Behavior-Driven Reconstruction. Instead of simply recognizing visual elements, Replay analyzes the actions performed in the video. This includes:

  • Button clicks
  • Form submissions
  • Page transitions
  • Data inputs
  • Mouse movements

By understanding these actions, Replay can infer the underlying logic and generate code that accurately reflects the intended behavior of the UI.

💡 Pro Tip: Record your screen with clear, deliberate actions for optimal Replay performance. Focus on one specific flow per recording for the best results.

Replay in Action: Generating a Login Form from a Tutorial#

Let's say you're watching a tutorial on creating a login form with Supabase authentication. Instead of manually coding the form, you can record the tutorial and use Replay to generate the code.

Here's a simplified example of how Replay might generate the React code for the login form:

typescript
import { useState } from 'react'; import { supabase } from './supabaseClient'; const LoginForm = () => { const [email, setEmail] = useState(''); const [password, setPassword] = useState(''); const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false); const [error, setError] = useState(null); const handleSubmit = async (e) => { e.preventDefault(); setLoading(true); setError(null); try { const { error } = await supabase.auth.signInWithPassword({ email: email, password: password, }); if (error) { setError(error.message); } else { // Redirect to dashboard or home page window.location.href = '/dashboard'; } } catch (err) { setError('An unexpected error occurred.'); } finally { setLoading(false); } }; return ( <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}> {error && <p className="error">{error}</p>} <label htmlFor="email">Email:</label> <input type="email" id="email" value={email} onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)} required /> <label htmlFor="password">Password:</label> <input type="password" id="password" value={password} onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)} required /> <button type="submit" disabled={loading}> {loading ? 'Logging in...' : 'Login'} </button> </form> ); }; export default LoginForm;

Replay doesn't just generate the basic HTML; it also infers the need for state management (using

text
useState
), the integration with Supabase authentication, and error handling. This level of understanding is simply not possible with screenshot-to-code tools.

Key Features of Replay#

Replay offers a range of features designed to streamline the UI development process:

  • Multi-Page Generation: Replay can generate code for multi-page applications, capturing the flow between different screens.
  • Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase for authentication, database, and storage.
  • Style Injection: Replay can infer styling from the video and generate CSS or Tailwind CSS code.
  • Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flow within your application based on the video analysis.

Implementing Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Here's a simplified guide to using Replay to generate UI code from a tutorial:

Step 1: Record Your Tutorial#

Record a clear, concise video of the UI tutorial you want to replicate. Make sure to:

  • Show all interactions clearly.
  • Speak audibly, explaining each step.
  • Keep the recording focused on a single, specific flow.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to the Replay platform. Replay will automatically analyze the video and begin reconstructing the UI.

Step 3: Review and Refine#

Review the generated code and make any necessary adjustments. Replay provides a visual interface for editing and refining the code.

Step 4: Integrate into Your Project#

Copy the generated code into your project and integrate it with your existing codebase.

⚠️ Warning: Replay is a powerful tool, but it's not a magic bullet. You may still need to manually adjust the generated code to fit your specific needs. Always review and test the code thoroughly.

Benefits of Using Replay#

Using Replay offers several key benefits:

  • Increased Productivity: Dramatically reduce the time spent manually coding UI.
  • Reduced Errors: Minimize the risk of errors by automating the code generation process.
  • Faster Prototyping: Quickly prototype new UI ideas by simply recording a demo.
  • Improved Collaboration: Share video tutorials and let Replay generate the code for your team.
  • Democratized Development: Lower the barrier to entry for UI development, allowing non-coders to contribute.

Beyond Tutorials: Replay for Code Walkthroughs#

Replay isn't just for tutorials. It's also incredibly useful for code walkthroughs. Imagine a senior developer explaining a complex UI component. You can record their screen as they explain the code, and Replay will generate a working version of that component. This is a game-changer for onboarding new team members and sharing knowledge within your organization.

Code Block Example: Fetching Data#

Here's another code snippet demonstrating Replay's potential. Imagine a tutorial showing how to fetch data from an API. Replay can infer the need for an asynchronous function and generate the following code:

javascript
async function fetchData() { try { const response = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data'); const data = await response.json(); console.log(data); return data; } catch (error) { console.error('Error fetching data:', error); return null; } } fetchData();

Replay intelligently infers the

text
try...catch
block for error handling, the use of
text
async/await
, and the need to parse the response as JSON.

📝 Note: The accuracy of the generated code depends on the clarity and quality of the video recording.

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 latest details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

V0.dev generates UI based on text prompts. Replay generates UI based on video analysis, understanding user behavior and intent. Replay excels at replicating existing UIs and flows, while v0.dev is better suited for generating new designs from scratch.

What frameworks and libraries does Replay support?#

Replay currently supports React, Vue.js, and HTML/CSS. Support for other frameworks is planned for future releases.

Can Replay generate code for complex animations?#

Replay can capture basic animations and transitions. However, complex animations may require manual adjustments to the generated code.

Conclusion: Replay is Revolutionizing UI Development#

Replay is a revolutionary tool that is transforming the way UI is developed. By understanding user behavior from video recordings, Replay automates the tedious process of manually coding UI, freeing up developers to focus on more strategic tasks. Whether you're learning from tutorials, sharing code walkthroughs, or simply prototyping new ideas, Replay can help you build better UI, faster.


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