Replay vs. Cursor for Responsive Design: Which AI Creates Better Layouts from Video?

TL;DR: Replay leverages video analysis and behavior-driven reconstruction to generate more accurate and responsive UI code compared to Cursor's screenshot-based approach, especially for complex layouts and dynamic user flows.

The promise of AI-powered code generation is tantalizing: describe your vision or provide a visual and watch the code appear. But the reality is often far from seamless, particularly when dealing with responsive design. Two tools aiming to bridge this gap are Replay and Cursor. While both leverage AI, their underlying methodologies differ significantly, leading to drastically different results. This article dives deep into a comparison of Replay and Cursor for generating responsive layouts from video input, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach with practical examples.

Understanding the Core Differences#

The fundamental difference lies in the input and analysis methods. Cursor, primarily a code editor with AI capabilities, often relies on static screenshots or limited visual information to generate code. Replay, on the other hand, takes video as its primary input and utilizes "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" to understand the intent behind user actions, not just the visual appearance. This is crucial for creating truly responsive and functional UI.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay analyzes video recordings of user interactions to reconstruct the UI. This means it understands:

• •How elements respond to different screen sizes
• •How users navigate between pages and components
• •The underlying logic behind UI interactions

This deep understanding allows Replay to generate code that is not only visually similar to the original but also functionally equivalent and responsive.

Cursor: Screenshot-Based Generation#

Cursor, while a powerful code editor with AI assistance, typically relies on static images or limited visual context for code generation. This approach often struggles with:

• •Complex layouts that require understanding relationships between elements
• •Dynamic behavior that changes based on user interactions
• •Adapting to different screen sizes and orientations

The following table summarizes the key differences:

Generating a Responsive Layout: A Practical Example#

Let's consider a common scenario: generating a responsive navigation bar with a hamburger menu for mobile devices. We'll evaluate how both Replay and Cursor handle this task.

Using Cursor#

With Cursor, you might provide a screenshot of the navigation bar as it appears on a desktop screen. Cursor can then generate the HTML and CSS for the visual layout. However, creating the responsive behavior (the hamburger menu appearing on smaller screens and toggling the navigation items) requires significant manual intervention.

html
<!-- Generated by Cursor (Example) -->
<nav class="navbar">
  <ul class="nav-links">
    <li><a href="#">Home</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">About</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">Services</a></li>
    <li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>
  </ul>
</nav>

<style>
/* Generated by Cursor (Example) */
.navbar {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-around;
  background-color: #f0f0f0;
  padding: 10px;
}

.nav-links {
  list-style: none;
  display: flex;
}

.nav-links li {
  margin: 0 10px;
}

/* Missing: Responsive behavior for smaller screens (Hamburger menu) */
</style>

The generated code is a starting point, but lacks the crucial responsive behavior. You would need to manually add the media queries, hamburger menu icon, and JavaScript to handle the toggling functionality.

Using Replay#

With Replay, you would record a video of yourself interacting with the navigation bar, demonstrating how it transforms into a hamburger menu on a smaller screen. Replay analyzes this video and reconstructs the UI, understanding the relationship between the screen size and the navigation bar's behavior.

typescript
// Generated by Replay (Example)
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import './Navbar.css';

const Navbar = () => {
  const [isMenuOpen, setIsMenuOpen] = useState(false);

  const toggleMenu = () => {
    setIsMenuOpen(!isMenuOpen);
  };

  return (
    <nav className="navbar">
      <div className="logo">My Logo</div>
      <button className="hamburger-menu" onClick={toggleMenu}>
        ☰
      </button>
      <ul className={`nav-links ${isMenuOpen ? 'active' : ''}`}>
        <li><a href="#">Home</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">About</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">Services</a></li>
        <li><a href="#">Contact</a></li>
      </ul>
    </nav>
  );
};

export default Navbar;

css
/* Generated by Replay (Example) */
.navbar {
  display: flex;
  justify-content: space-between;
  align-items: center;
  background-color: #f0f0f0;
  padding: 10px;
}

.nav-links {
  list-style: none;
  display: flex;
}

.nav-links li {
  margin: 0 10px;
}

.hamburger-menu {
  display: none; /* Hidden by default on larger screens */
  font-size: 24px;
  background: none;
  border: none;
  cursor: pointer;
}

/* Media query for smaller screens */
@media (max-width: 768px) {
  .nav-links {
    display: none; /* Hide navigation links by default */
    flex-direction: column;
    position: absolute;
    top: 60px;
    left: 0;
    width: 100%;
    background-color: #f0f0f0;
    text-align: center;
  }

  .nav-links.active {
    display: flex; /* Show navigation links when menu is active */
  }

  .hamburger-menu {
    display: block; /* Show hamburger menu on smaller screens */
  }
}

Replay generates code that includes the hamburger menu, the JavaScript logic to toggle the menu, and the CSS media queries to handle the responsive behavior. This significantly reduces the amount of manual coding required.

💡 Pro Tip: When recording video for Replay, clearly demonstrate the different states and behaviors of the UI elements to ensure accurate reconstruction.

Beyond Responsiveness: Understanding User Intent#

Replay's ability to understand user intent goes beyond simple responsiveness. Consider a more complex scenario involving a multi-step form with conditional logic.

The Challenge of Conditional Logic#

Imagine a form where certain fields are displayed or hidden based on the user's selection in a previous field. Screenshot-based tools like Cursor would struggle to capture this dynamic behavior. They can generate the initial form layout, but implementing the conditional logic would require significant manual coding.

Replay's Solution: Behavior-Driven Forms#

With Replay, you would record a video of yourself filling out the form, demonstrating how the fields change based on your selections. Replay analyzes this video and reconstructs the form, including the conditional logic.

This is possible because Replay doesn't just see the visual changes; it understands the cause and effect relationship between user actions and UI updates.

⚠️ Warning: The accuracy of Replay's reconstruction depends on the clarity and completeness of the video recording. Ensure that you demonstrate all possible states and behaviors of the UI.

Replay's Unique Features: Multi-Page Generation, Supabase Integration, and Style Injection#

Replay offers several features that distinguish it from screenshot-based tools:

• •Multi-Page Generation: Replay can generate code for entire websites or applications by analyzing videos of user navigation between pages.
• •Supabase Integration: Replay seamlessly integrates with Supabase, allowing you to easily connect your generated UI to a backend database.
• •Style Injection: Replay allows you to inject custom styles into the generated code, ensuring that the UI matches your brand's visual identity.

These features make Replay a powerful tool for rapidly prototyping and building complex, data-driven applications.

Streamlining Product Flow Mapping#

Replay excels at mapping product flows by analyzing user interaction videos. This feature allows developers to:

1. •Visualize User Journeys: Automatically generate diagrams showcasing how users navigate through different sections of an application.
2. •Identify Bottlenecks: Pinpoint areas where users experience friction or drop-off, leading to targeted improvements.
3. •Optimize User Experience: Refine navigation and interaction patterns based on real user behavior captured in the videos.

Step 1: Record User Interaction#

Begin by recording videos of users interacting with your application or website. Ensure that these videos capture the full user journey you want to analyze.

Step 2: Upload and Analyze#

Upload the recorded videos to Replay. The engine will automatically analyze the videos, identifying key interaction points and navigation patterns.

Step 3: Generate Flow Maps#

Replay will generate a visual flow map representing the user journey. This map highlights the paths users take, the frequency of each path, and any points of deviation.

Step 4: Refine and Optimize#

Use the generated flow maps to identify areas for improvement. Refine your application's navigation and interaction patterns to optimize the user experience.

📝 Note: Replay's product flow mapping feature is particularly useful for identifying and addressing usability issues in complex applications.

Comparison Table Expanded#

To further illustrate the differences, here's an expanded comparison table:

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features and usage. 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 Replay and v0.dev aim to generate code from visual inputs, they differ significantly in their approach. v0.dev typically relies on text prompts and UI descriptions, while Replay analyzes video recordings of user interactions. Replay's video-based approach allows it to capture more nuanced information about user intent and generate more accurate and responsive code.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Replay supports a wide range of popular front-end frameworks, including React, Vue.js, and Angular. It also supports plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

How secure is Replay?#

Replay prioritizes data security and privacy. All video recordings are processed securely and stored in compliance with industry standards. Replay also offers options for on-premise deployment for organizations with strict security requirements.

---

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