Replay's API: Building Custom Integrations and Workflows

TL;DR: Replay's API allows developers to build custom integrations and workflows by leveraging its video-to-code engine, enabling advanced automation and personalized development experiences.

Replay's API: Building Custom Integrations and Workflows#

The era of manual UI development is rapidly fading. While screenshot-to-code tools offer a glimpse into automated code generation, they fundamentally lack the understanding of user intent. They see pixels; they don't understand behavior. This is where Replay shines. By analyzing video recordings, Replay reconstructs working UI with a deep understanding of user behavior, making it a game-changer for developers looking to automate and streamline their workflow. Replay's API opens a new world of possibilities, allowing you to build custom integrations and workflows tailored to your specific needs.

The Problem: Static Code Generation Falls Short#

Traditional code generation tools, especially those relying on static screenshots, struggle with the dynamic nature of modern web applications. They can generate basic UI elements, but they fail to capture the nuances of user interaction and the underlying logic that drives the application. This leads to brittle code that requires extensive manual tweaking and often fails to accurately represent the desired functionality.

Replay addresses these limitations by using video as the source of truth. It understands the user's journey through the application, the actions they take, and the intended outcomes. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" approach allows Replay to generate more accurate, robust, and maintainable code. But the real power comes from Replay's API, which allows you to extend its capabilities and integrate it seamlessly into your existing development environment.

Understanding Replay's API#

Replay's API is designed to be flexible and extensible, allowing you to build a wide range of custom integrations and workflows. It provides endpoints for:

• •Uploading video recordings
• •Triggering code generation
• •Retrieving generated code
• •Accessing UI flow maps
• •Configuring generation parameters (e.g., styling, component libraries)

💡 Pro Tip: The Replay API uses standard REST principles, making it easy to integrate with any programming language or framework.

Building Custom Integrations: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through a practical example of building a custom integration that automatically generates React components from user recordings and integrates them into an existing project.

Step 1: Authentication and Setup#

First, you'll need to obtain an API key from your Replay account. This key will be used to authenticate your requests to the API.

📝 Note: Store your API key securely and avoid committing it to your codebase. Use environment variables instead.

Step 2: Uploading a Video Recording#

To trigger code generation, you'll need to upload a video recording to Replay. The API accepts various video formats, including MP4, MOV, and WebM.

typescript
// Example using Node.js and the 'node-fetch' library
import fetch from 'node-fetch';
import * as fs from 'fs';

const uploadVideo = async (videoPath: string, apiKey: string) => {
  const videoData = fs.readFileSync(videoPath);

  const response = await fetch('https://api.replay.build/v1/upload', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
      'Content-Type': 'video/mp4', // Adjust content type based on your video format
    },
    body: videoData,
  });

  const data = await response.json();
  return data.uploadId; // Store the uploadId for the next step
};

// Example usage
const apiKey = process.env.REPLAY_API_KEY;
const videoPath = './path/to/your/video.mp4';

if (apiKey) {
  uploadVideo(videoPath, apiKey)
    .then(uploadId => {
      console.log('Video uploaded successfully. Upload ID:', uploadId);
    })
    .catch(error => {
      console.error('Error uploading video:', error);
    });
} else {
  console.error('REPLAY_API_KEY not found in environment variables.');
}

Step 3: Triggering Code Generation#

Once the video is uploaded, you can trigger code generation using the

returned in the previous step. You can also specify various configuration parameters, such as the target framework (React, Vue, etc.), styling preferences, and component library.

typescript
// Example using Node.js and the 'node-fetch' library
const generateCode = async (uploadId: string, apiKey: string) => {
  const response = await fetch('https://api.replay.build/v1/generate', {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      uploadId: uploadId,
      framework: 'react', // Specify the target framework
      style: 'tailwind', // Specify the styling preference
      componentLibrary: 'material-ui', //Specify the component library
    }),
  });

  const data = await response.json();
  return data.jobId; // Store the jobId to track the generation progress
};

// Example usage
const uploadId = 'your_upload_id'; // Replace with the actual uploadId
const apiKey = process.env.REPLAY_API_KEY;

if (apiKey) {
  generateCode(uploadId, apiKey)
    .then(jobId => {
      console.log('Code generation triggered successfully. Job ID:', jobId);
    })
    .catch(error => {
      console.error('Error triggering code generation:', error);
    });
} else {
  console.error('REPLAY_API_KEY not found in environment variables.');
}

Step 4: Retrieving the Generated Code#

Code generation can take some time, depending on the complexity of the video and the specified configuration parameters. You can use the

returned in the previous step to track the progress of the generation and retrieve the generated code once it's complete.

typescript
// Example using Node.js and the 'node-fetch' library
const getGeneratedCode = async (jobId: string, apiKey: string) => {
  const response = await fetch(`https://api.replay.build/v1/job/${jobId}`, {
    method: 'GET',
    headers: {
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    },
  });

  const data = await response.json();

  if (data.status === 'completed') {
    return data.code; // The generated code
  } else if (data.status === 'failed') {
    throw new Error('Code generation failed.');
  } else {
    console.log('Code generation still in progress. Status:', data.status);
    return null; // Code not yet available
  }
};

// Example usage
const jobId = 'your_job_id'; // Replace with the actual jobId
const apiKey = process.env.REPLAY_API_KEY;

if (apiKey) {
  getGeneratedCode(jobId, apiKey)
    .then(code => {
      if (code) {
        console.log('Generated code:', code);
        // Integrate the code into your project
      } else {
        console.log('Code generation still in progress.');
      }
    })
    .catch(error => {
      console.error('Error retrieving generated code:', error);
    });
} else {
  console.error('REPLAY_API_KEY not found in environment variables.');
}

Step 5: Integrating the Generated Code#

Once you have the generated code, you can integrate it into your existing project. This may involve:

• •Creating new React components
• •Adding the generated code to existing components
• •Updating the application's routing configuration
• •Adjusting the styling to match your application's design

⚠️ Warning: The generated code may require some manual adjustments to ensure it integrates seamlessly with your existing codebase. Always review and test the generated code thoroughly.

Building Custom Workflows#

Beyond simple code generation, Replay's API enables you to build complex workflows that automate various aspects of the UI development process. Here are a few examples:

• •Automated UI Testing: Automatically generate UI tests from user recordings.
• •Design System Integration: Integrate Replay with your design system to ensure consistency and maintainability.
• •Personalized User Experiences: Generate UI variations based on user behavior and preferences.
• •Product Flow Mapping: Visualize user journeys and identify areas for improvement.

Replay's ability to understand user behavior opens up endless possibilities for automating and optimizing the UI development process.

Benefits of Using Replay's API#

• •Increased Productivity: Automate code generation and reduce manual coding effort.
• •Improved Code Quality: Generate more accurate and robust code based on user behavior.
• •Faster Time to Market: Accelerate the UI development process and deliver features faster.
• •Enhanced User Experience: Create personalized and engaging user experiences.
• •Streamlined Workflow: Integrate Replay seamlessly into your existing development environment.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans are available for higher usage and access to advanced features. Check the Replay pricing page for details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both aim to generate code, Replay focuses on video input and behavior analysis. V0.dev primarily uses text prompts and AI to generate UI components. Replay understands what the user is trying to do, not just what they see.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Replay currently supports React, Vue, and Angular. Support for other frameworks is planned for the future.

Can I customize the generated code?#

Yes, Replay allows you to specify various configuration parameters, such as the target framework, styling preferences, and component library. You can also manually adjust the generated code to further customize it.

Is my data secure?#

Replay takes data security seriously. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Replay is SOC 2 compliant.

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