Replay vs. Cursor for Responsive UI: Which AI Creates Best 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.

The promise of AI-powered code generation is tantalizing: transform design ideas or existing workflows into working code with minimal effort. Two tools vying for attention in this space are Replay and Cursor. While both aim to accelerate UI development, they take fundamentally different approaches, particularly when it comes to creating responsive layouts from visual input. This article dives deep into Replay vs. Cursor, focusing on their ability to generate responsive UIs from video.

The Core Difference: Video vs. Screenshots#

The key differentiator between Replay and Cursor lies in their input:

• •Cursor: Primarily uses screenshots or static images as input.
• •Replay: Employs video recordings to understand user behavior and intent.

This seemingly simple difference has profound implications for the quality and responsiveness of the generated code. Screenshot-based tools can only "see" a single state of the UI. They lack the contextual understanding of user interactions, animations, and dynamic content that a video provides.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction#

Replay utilizes what we call "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction." It analyzes video recordings to understand how a user interacts with a UI. This includes:

• •Identifying user flows: Recognizing sequences of actions (clicks, scrolls, form submissions) that represent complete tasks.
• •Inferring intent: Understanding why a user performs certain actions, based on the context of the video.
• •Capturing dynamic behavior: Replicating animations, transitions, and other dynamic UI elements.

This approach allows Replay to generate code that is not only visually accurate but also functionally complete and responsive.

Cursor: Screenshot-to-Code Limitations#

Cursor, on the other hand, relies on static images. While impressive in its ability to translate visual elements into code, it struggles with:

• •Responsiveness: Creating layouts that adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes. Screenshots provide no information about how the UI should behave on smaller or larger screens.
• •Dynamic Behavior: Replicating animations, transitions, or interactive elements. Screenshots capture only a single frame in time.
• •Complex User Flows: Understanding multi-step processes that involve multiple screens or interactions. Each screenshot is treated as an isolated entity.

A Detailed Comparison#

Let's examine a more detailed comparison of Replay and Cursor across key features:

💡 Pro Tip: When evaluating code generation tools, consider the complexity of your UI. For simple, static layouts, screenshot-based tools might suffice. However, for complex, dynamic, and responsive UIs, Replay's video-driven approach offers significant advantages.

Building a Responsive Layout: A Practical Example#

Let's imagine we want to create a responsive navigation bar. With Replay, we simply record a video of ourselves interacting with an existing navigation bar, demonstrating how it adapts to different screen sizes. Replay analyzes this video and generates the following code (example using React and Tailwind CSS):

typescript
// Generated by Replay
import React from 'react';

const Navbar = () => {
  return (
    <nav className="bg-gray-800 p-4">
      <div className="container mx-auto flex items-center justify-between">
        <div className="text-white font-bold text-xl">My App</div>
        <div className="hidden md:flex space-x-4">
          <a href="#" className="text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Home</a>
          <a href="#" className="text-gray-300 hover:text-white">About</a>
          <a href="#" className="text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Services</a>
          <a href="#" className="text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Contact</a>
        </div>
        <button className="md:hidden text-white focus:outline-none">
          ☰
        </button>
      </div>
    </nav>
  );
};

export default Navbar;

This code automatically includes responsive breakpoints (using Tailwind CSS classes like

and ) based on the behavior observed in the video.

With Cursor, you would need to provide multiple screenshots of the navigation bar at different screen sizes and manually adjust the generated code to achieve the same level of responsiveness.

⚠️ Warning: AI code generation tools are not a replacement for skilled developers. Always review and test the generated code thoroughly.

Supabase Integration: From UI to Functional Application#

Replay goes beyond UI generation by offering seamless Supabase integration. This allows you to quickly connect your generated UI to a backend database and authentication system.

For example, if your video shows a user creating an account, Replay can automatically generate the necessary Supabase code to handle user registration:

typescript
// Generated by Replay with Supabase Integration
import { supabase } from './supabaseClient';

const handleSignUp = async (email, password) => {
  const { data, error } = await supabase.auth.signUp({
    email: email,
    password: password,
  });

  if (error) {
    console.error('Error signing up:', error);
  } else {
    console.log('Sign up successful:', data);
  }
};

This eliminates the need for manual backend coding, further accelerating the development process.

Generating Product Flow Maps#

Replay can also automatically generate product flow maps from your video recordings. This visualizes the user's journey through your application, highlighting key steps and interactions. This is invaluable for understanding user behavior and identifying areas for improvement.

Step-by-Step Guide: Using Replay for Responsive UI Generation#

Here's a simplified guide to using Replay for generating responsive UI code:

Step 1: Record Your Video#

Record a video of yourself interacting with the UI you want to recreate. Be sure to demonstrate how the UI responds to different screen sizes and user actions.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to Replay's platform.

Step 3: Review and Customize#

Review the generated code and customize it as needed. Replay provides a user-friendly interface for making adjustments and adding your own code.

Step 4: Integrate with Your Project#

Integrate the generated code into your existing project.

📝 Note: Replay is designed to be iterative. You can always record new videos and regenerate the code as your UI evolves.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for more advanced functionality and usage. Check the Replay pricing page for the latest details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both Replay and v0.dev aim to generate code from visual input, they differ significantly in their approach. V0.dev primarily uses text prompts and component libraries to generate UI. Replay, on the other hand, analyzes video recordings to understand user behavior and intent, resulting in more accurate and responsive code. Replay also provides Supabase integration for backend functionality.

What kind of applications are best suited for Replay?#

Replay is particularly well-suited for complex, dynamic, and responsive UIs that involve multi-step user flows. Examples include e-commerce applications, dashboards, and interactive web applications.

Can Replay generate code for mobile apps?#

Currently, Replay focuses on web applications. However, future versions may support mobile app development.

Conclusion: Replay vs. Cursor#

While both Replay and Cursor offer valuable tools for accelerating UI development, Replay's video-driven approach provides a significant advantage when it comes to generating responsive and functional code. By analyzing user behavior and intent, Replay can create UIs that are not only visually accurate but also functionally complete and adaptable to different screen sizes. If you're looking for a solution that goes beyond simple screenshot-to-code conversion, Replay is the clear choice.

---

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