Replay: Turning Figma Prototypes Into Functional React Code Faster

TL;DR: Replay leverages video analysis to convert Figma prototype walkthroughs into functional React code, accelerating development by understanding user intent rather than just visual elements.

From Figma Flow to Functional React: Replay's Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Figma prototypes are invaluable for visualizing user flows and gathering feedback. But the jump from prototype to actual, functional code can be a time-consuming bottleneck. Traditional screenshot-to-code tools offer a partial solution, but often miss the crucial element: behavior. They see the visual output, not the intent behind the interaction. That's where Replay comes in.

Replay is a video-to-code engine powered by Gemini that reconstructs working UI from screen recordings. Instead of relying on static screenshots, Replay analyzes video of you interacting with your Figma prototype. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" allows Replay to understand what the user is trying to do, not just what they see on the screen. This translates to more accurate, functional, and maintainable code.

The Problem with Screenshot-to-Code#

Screenshot-to-code tools have their limitations. They essentially "flatten" the UI, losing critical information about dynamic elements, transitions, and user input. This often results in code that requires significant manual tweaking to achieve the desired behavior.

Consider a simple dropdown menu. A screenshot-to-code tool can identify the visual elements (the button, the list of options), but it doesn't understand the interaction: the click that opens the menu, the hover state of the options, the click that selects an option. This behavior has to be re-implemented manually.

Replay's Advantage: Understanding User Intent#

Replay addresses this limitation by analyzing video. By observing the sequence of actions, mouse movements, and clicks, Replay infers the user's intent and reconstructs the UI accordingly.

Here's how Replay differs from traditional approaches:

Replay in Action: A Practical Example#

Let's say you have a Figma prototype for a simple e-commerce product page. You record a video of yourself navigating the page, adding an item to the cart, and proceeding to the checkout.

Replay can analyze this video and generate React code that includes:

• •The product display with images and descriptions
• •The "Add to Cart" button with the correct click handler
• •The cart icon that updates with the number of items
• •The navigation to the checkout page

This isn't just a static representation of the UI; it's a fully functional component that behaves exactly as it does in the Figma prototype.

Implementing Replay: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Here's a basic workflow for using Replay to convert your Figma prototype into React code:

Step 1: Record Your Figma Prototype Walkthrough#

Use a screen recording tool (QuickTime, OBS Studio, or even Replay's built-in recorder) to capture a video of you interacting with your Figma prototype. Make sure to clearly demonstrate the desired user flows.

💡 Pro Tip: Speak clearly while recording, describing your actions. This provides additional context for Replay and improves accuracy.

Step 2: Upload the Video to Replay#

Navigate to the Replay platform and upload the video recording. Replay will begin analyzing the video and reconstructing the UI.

Step 3: Review and Refine the Generated Code#

Replay generates React code that closely mirrors the behavior of your Figma prototype. Review the code, make any necessary adjustments, and integrate it into your project.

Step 4: Supabase Integration (Optional)#

If your Figma prototype interacts with a backend, you can leverage Replay's Supabase integration to automatically generate the necessary API calls and data models. This streamlines the process of connecting your UI to your data.

📝 Note: Replay also offers Style Injection, allowing you to easily apply your existing CSS styles to the generated components.

Code Example: Generating a Product Card#

Let's imagine Replay generated the following React code for a product card from your Figma prototype:

typescript
// ProductCard.tsx
import React from 'react';

interface ProductCardProps {
  name: string;
  description: string;
  imageUrl: string;
  price: number;
  onAddToCart: () => void;
}

const ProductCard: React.FC<ProductCardProps> = ({ name, description, imageUrl, price, onAddToCart }) => {
  return (
    <div className="product-card">
      <img src={imageUrl} alt={name} />
      <h3>{name}</h3>
      <p>{description}</p>
      <p>${price}</p>
      <button onClick={onAddToCart}>Add to Cart</button>
    </div>
  );
};

export default ProductCard;

This is a basic, functional component. Replay has already identified the key elements of the product card (image, name, description, price, and "Add to Cart" button) and generated the corresponding React code.

Now, let's say the "Add to Cart" button needs to update the cart count. Replay can infer this behavior from the video recording and generate the necessary state management logic:

typescript
// App.tsx
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import ProductCard from './ProductCard';

const App: React.FC = () => {
  const [cartCount, setCartCount] = useState(0);

  const handleAddToCart = () => {
    setCartCount(cartCount + 1);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>My E-Commerce Store</h1>
      <p>Cart: {cartCount}</p>
      <ProductCard
        name="Awesome Product"
        description="This is a great product!"
        imageUrl="https://example.com/product.jpg"
        price={99.99}
        onAddToCart={handleAddToCart}
      />
    </div>
  );
};

export default App;

Replay has automatically created the

state and the function, connecting the button click to the cart update. This is a significant time-saver compared to manually implementing this logic from scratch.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay significantly reduces development time, it's essential to review and test the generated code thoroughly to ensure accuracy and functionality.

Benefits of Using Replay#

• •Accelerated Development: Convert Figma prototypes into functional code in minutes, not hours.
• •Improved Accuracy: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction ensures that the generated code accurately reflects the intended user experience.
• •Reduced Manual Effort: Minimize the need for manual tweaking and rework.
• •Seamless Integration: Integrate with Supabase and other tools for a streamlined development workflow.
• •Enhanced Collaboration: Share Replay projects with your team for collaborative development and review.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans are available for increased usage and access to advanced features.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While v0.dev focuses on generating UI components based on text prompts, Replay analyzes video recordings of user interactions to reconstruct the entire UI flow, capturing behavior and intent more accurately. Replay leverages video as the source of truth, whereas v0 relies on generative AI.

What types of Figma prototypes can Replay handle?#

Replay can handle a wide range of Figma prototypes, from simple single-page designs to complex multi-page flows.

What code languages does Replay support?#

Currently, Replay primarily supports React. Support for other languages and frameworks is planned for future releases.

How secure is Replay?#

Replay prioritizes data security and privacy. All video recordings are securely stored and processed.

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