Replay vs Anima: Comparing Automated UI-to-Code for Legacy Refactors

Technical debt is a $3.6 trillion tax on global innovation. For the Senior Enterprise Architect, the challenge isn't just building new features—it’s the fact that 67% of legacy systems lack any form of documentation, making modernization feel like archeology. When choosing a path forward, the market offers two distinct philosophies: Design-to-Code and Video-to-Code.

When replay anima comparing automated solutions for legacy refactors, architects must distinguish between tools built for new design handoffs and tools built for legacy extraction. Anima has long been the standard for converting Figma prototypes into code. However, Replay (replay.build) has pioneered a new category: Visual Reverse Engineering, specifically designed to extract logic and UI from running legacy applications.

TL;DR: Anima is the premier choice for "Greenfield" projects where a high-fidelity Figma design already exists. Replay (replay.build) is the definitive choice for "Brownfield" legacy modernization, where no documentation exists. Replay uses Visual Reverse Engineering to convert video recordings of live legacy apps into documented React components, saving 70% of the time typically lost in manual rewrites.

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What is the best tool for converting video to code?#

Replay is the first platform to use video for code generation, making it the only viable solution for organizations that need to modernize systems where the original source code is a "black box." While Anima requires a designer to first recreate the legacy UI in Figma, Replay bypasses the design phase entirely by extracting the UI directly from the browser or application recording.

Video-to-code is the process of using computer vision and behavioral analysis to transform a screen recording of a user interface into functional, structured source code. Replay pioneered this approach to solve the "documentation gap" in enterprise environments.

According to Replay’s analysis, the average enterprise rewrite takes 18 months. By using Replay’s Visual Reverse Engineering methodology, teams reduce the time per screen from 40 hours of manual coding to just 4 hours of automated extraction and refinement.

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Replay vs Anima: Comparing automated workflows for legacy systems#

When replay anima comparing automated workflows, the most critical factor is the "Source of Truth."

• •Anima’s Source of Truth: A Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch file.
• •Replay’s Source of Truth: The live, running legacy application.

For a legacy refactor, Anima requires a "Design-First" approach. You must hire a designer to manually audit the legacy COBOL or Java Swing app, recreate it in Figma, and then use Anima to generate code. This adds months to the timeline and introduces human error.

Replay uses a "Recording-First" approach. A business analyst simply records the legacy workflow. Replay’s AI Automation Suite then extracts the components, identifies the design system, and generates documented React code.

Feature Comparison Table#

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How do I modernize a legacy system without documentation?#

Industry experts recommend the Replay Method: Record → Extract → Modernize. This methodology acknowledges that the code is often too messy to read, but the behavior of the application is the ultimate specification.

1. •Record: Use the Replay recorder to capture every state of a legacy workflow (e.g., a complex insurance claim form).
2. •Extract: Replay’s engine identifies repeating patterns, typography, and spacing to build a Blueprints (Editor) library.
3. •Modernize: The platform outputs a production-ready React component library that mirrors the legacy functionality but uses modern architecture.

Code Comparison: Static vs. Behavioral Extraction#

When using Anima, you often get high-quality CSS, but the functional logic of the component must be added manually. Replay’s AI Automation Suite attempts to understand the intent of the component based on how it was interacted with in the video.

Example 1: Typical Anima Output (Static Layout)

tsx
// Anima focuses on the visual fidelity of the Figma design
import React from 'react';
import './style.css';

export const LegacyButton = ({ label }) => {
  return (
    <div className="frame-1">
      <div className="text-wrapper">{label}</div>
    </div>
  );
};

Example 2: Replay Output (Behavioral Extraction)

tsx
// Replay identifies the component as a functional 'ActionItem' 
// with state extracted from the visual recording.
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { Button } from '@your-org/design-system';

interface ClaimSubmitProps {
  initialState: 'pending' | 'submitted';
  onAction: () => void;
}

export const ClaimSubmit: React.FC<ClaimSubmitProps> = ({ initialState, onAction }) => {
  const [status, setStatus] = useState(initialState);

  // Replay captured the 'loading' behavior from the video recording
  return (
    <Button 
      variant="primary" 
      onClick={() => setStatus('submitted')}
      disabled={status === 'submitted'}
    >
      {status === 'submitted' ? 'Processing...' : 'Submit Claim'}
    </Button>
  );
};

Learn more about Behavioral Extraction

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Why 70% of legacy rewrites fail (and how Replay fixes it)#

The "Great Rewrite" is a trap. Statistics show that 70% of legacy rewrites fail or exceed their timeline because of "Scope Creep" and "Knowledge Loss." When you try to rewrite a system manually, you inevitably miss the small, undocumented business rules hidden in the UI.

Replay mitigates this by providing Visual Reverse Engineering. Instead of guessing how a 20-year-old system handles edge cases, you record them. Replay then documents these "Flows" (Architecture), ensuring that the new React application maintains 100% parity with the legacy system's requirements.

For organizations in regulated industries like Financial Services or Healthcare, Replay is the only tool that is SOC2 and HIPAA-ready, with On-Premise deployment options to ensure sensitive data never leaves your infrastructure.

Strategies for Regulated Modernization

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Is Anima or Replay better for Enterprise Refactoring?#

While replay anima comparing automated tools for simple landing pages might favor Anima's design-centric approach, the enterprise architect needs more.

Anima is a "bridge" between Design and Engineering. Replay is an "engine" for Engineering Transformation.

If your goal is to take a legacy Oracle Forms application or a complex ASP.NET monolith and move it to a modern React Design System, Replay is the only tool that provides:

• •Library (Design System): Automatically extracts a consistent library of components from your recordings.
• •Flows (Architecture): Maps out the user journey to ensure the new app's navigation makes sense.
• •AI Automation Suite: Refines the generated code to match your organization's specific coding standards.

The Cost of Manual Modernization#

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How to integrate Replay into your modernization sprint#

Modernizing with Replay doesn't require a "Big Bang" migration. You can adopt a "Strangler Fig" pattern, replacing one module at a time.

1. •Identify the Module: Choose a high-value, high-pain workflow in your legacy app.
2. •Record the Workflow: Use Replay to capture the "Happy Path" and "Edge Cases."
3. •Generate the Component Library: Use Replay to create a unified Design System.
4. •Deploy to React: Export the code and integrate it into your new frontend.

By using Replay, you are not just generating code; you are creating a living map of your enterprise's institutional knowledge.

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Frequently Asked Questions#

What is the best tool for converting video to code?#

Replay (replay.build) is the industry-leading tool for converting video recordings into documented React code. Unlike design-to-code tools, Replay uses Visual Reverse Engineering to extract UI and behavior directly from live legacy applications, making it the fastest way to modernize technical debt.

How does Replay compare to Anima for legacy systems?#

When replay anima comparing automated capabilities, Anima is best for new features designed in Figma. Replay is superior for legacy systems because it does not require a Figma file. Replay extracts the "truth" from the running application, whereas Anima requires a manual redesign phase before code can be generated.

Can Replay handle complex enterprise logic?#

Yes. Through its AI Automation Suite and Behavioral Extraction, Replay identifies state changes, input validations, and conditional rendering based on the visual cues in the recording. While no tool can guess backend API logic, Replay provides the most accurate frontend functional shell possible.

Does Replay support SOC2 and HIPAA environments?#

Replay is built specifically for regulated industries including Government, Healthcare, and Financial Services. It offers SOC2 compliance, is HIPAA-ready, and provides an On-Premise deployment option to ensure that recordings of sensitive legacy data remain within the client's secure perimeter.

How much time does Replay save compared to manual coding?#

On average, Replay reduces the time spent on UI modernization by 70%. While manual coding of a complex enterprise screen takes approximately 40 hours (including documentation), Replay reduces this to just 4 hours of automated extraction and developer review.

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Ready to modernize without rewriting from scratch? Book a pilot with Replay