TL;DR: Replay leverages AI to reconstruct fully functional UIs from video recordings, offering a behavior-driven approach to solving design problems and bridging the gap between user experience and code.
Rebuilding user interfaces from scratch is a common pain point, especially when design documentation is lacking or outdated. Imagine trying to recreate a complex multi-page application based solely on a screen recording of a user interacting with it. Sounds impossible, right? In 2026, it's not only possible, it's becoming the standard, thanks to tools like Replay.
The Problem: Design Documentation Decay#
Design systems are great in theory, but in practice, they often fall behind the rapid pace of development. This leads to:
- •Inconsistent UI across different parts of the application
- •Difficulty onboarding new developers
- •Time wasted reverse-engineering existing UIs
- •Reduced agility when iterating on designs
Screenshot-to-code tools offer a partial solution, but they only capture static visual information. They miss the crucial element of user behavior. What was the user trying to accomplish? What were the steps they took to achieve their goal? Understanding the intent behind the UI is key to accurately reconstructing it.
The Solution: Behavior-Driven Reconstruction with Replay#
Replay takes a fundamentally different approach. It analyzes video recordings of user interactions, using AI to understand not just what the UI looks like, but how it's used. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" allows Replay to generate code that accurately reflects the intended user experience.
How Replay Works#
Replay leverages the power of Gemini to:
- •Analyze video: Process screen recordings to identify UI elements, user actions (clicks, scrolls, form inputs), and navigation patterns.
- •Infer intent: Determine the user's goals and the steps they took to achieve them.
- •Generate code: Reconstruct the UI with working functionality, including event handlers, data bindings, and navigation logic.
This process results in a fully functional, multi-page application that mirrors the user experience captured in the video.
Key Features of Replay#
- •Multi-page generation: Reconstruct entire application flows, not just individual screens.
- •Supabase integration: Seamlessly connect your UI to a Supabase backend for data storage and retrieval.
- •Style injection: Customize the look and feel of your generated UI with CSS or your preferred styling framework.
- •Product Flow maps: Visualize user journeys and identify areas for optimization.
💡 Pro Tip: Use high-quality screen recordings with clear audio narration to improve Replay's accuracy.
A Practical Example: Rebuilding an E-commerce Checkout Flow#
Let's say you have a screen recording of a user completing the checkout process on an e-commerce website. Here's how you can use Replay to rebuild that flow:
Step 1: Upload the Video to Replay#
Simply upload the screen recording to the Replay platform. The AI will begin analyzing the video.
Step 2: Review and Refine the Analysis#
Replay will present you with a breakdown of the identified UI elements and user actions. You can review and refine this analysis to ensure accuracy.
Step 3: Generate the Code#
With a single click, Replay will generate the code for the checkout flow. This code will include:
- •The UI structure (HTML/JSX)
- •The styling (CSS/Tailwind CSS)
- •The event handlers (JavaScript/TypeScript)
- •The data bindings (React Hooks/Vue.js directives)
- •The navigation logic
Here's a simplified example of the generated code:
typescript// CheckoutForm.tsx import React, { useState } from 'react'; const CheckoutForm = () => { const [name, setName] = useState(''); const [address, setAddress] = useState(''); const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent) => { e.preventDefault(); // Simulate submitting the order to a backend const orderData = { name, address }; const response = await fetch('/api/orders', { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', }, body: JSON.stringify(orderData), }); if (response.ok) { alert('Order placed successfully!'); } else { alert('Error placing order.'); } }; return ( <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}> <div> <label htmlFor="name">Name:</label> <input type="text" id="name" value={name} onChange={(e) => setName(e.target.value)} /> </div> <div> <label htmlFor="address">Address:</label> <input type="text" id="address" value={address} onChange={(e) => setAddress(e.target.value)} /> </div> <button type="submit">Place Order</button> </form> ); }; export default CheckoutForm;
Step 4: Integrate with Supabase (Optional)#
If you're using Supabase, Replay can automatically connect the generated UI to your database. This allows you to easily store and retrieve order data.
Step 5: Customize and Deploy#
Finally, you can customize the generated code to match your specific requirements and deploy it to your platform of choice.
Replay vs. Traditional Methods and Screenshot-to-Code Tools#
How does Replay compare to traditional methods and other UI generation tools?
| Feature | Traditional Manual Reconstruction | Screenshot-to-Code | Replay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input | Design Specs (often outdated) | Static Images | Video of User Interaction |
| Behavior Analysis | Manual Interpretation | None | ✅ AI-Powered |
| Code Quality | Depends on Developer Skill | Basic, often requires significant rework | High-quality, functional code |
| Time to Completion | Weeks/Months | Days/Weeks | Hours/Days |
| Accuracy | Subjective | Limited to visual appearance | High, reflects user intent |
| Multi-Page Support | Manual | Limited | ✅ Fully Supported |
| Supabase Integration | Manual | Manual | ✅ Automated |
📝 Note: The time to completion estimates are highly dependent on the complexity of the UI and the skill level of the developer.
Addressing Common Concerns#
Accuracy and Reliability#
Replay's accuracy depends on the quality of the input video and the complexity of the UI. However, the AI is constantly learning and improving. Replay provides tools to review and refine the analysis, ensuring that the generated code meets your expectations.
⚠️ Warning: Ensure the video recordings are clear and stable. Avoid excessive camera movement or obstructions.
Security and Privacy#
Replay is committed to protecting your data. All video recordings are processed securely and are not shared with third parties. You have full control over your data and can delete it at any time.
Code Maintainability#
Replay generates clean, well-structured code that is easy to maintain. The generated code follows industry best practices and is compatible with popular frameworks and libraries.
The Future of UI Development#
Replay represents a significant step forward in UI development. By leveraging AI to understand user behavior, Replay bridges the gap between design and code, enabling developers to build better user experiences faster. As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated tools that automate the process of UI creation and maintenance.
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.
How is Replay different from v0.dev?#
While v0.dev generates UI components based on text prompts, Replay analyzes video recordings to understand user behavior and reconstruct entire application flows. Replay focuses on capturing and replicating existing UIs, while v0.dev focuses on creating new UIs from scratch. Replay can also ingest existing video documentation of legacy systems to reverse engineer them into modern frameworks.
What frameworks and libraries does Replay support?#
Replay currently supports React, Vue.js, and HTML/CSS. Support for other frameworks and libraries is planned for future releases.
Can I use Replay to rebuild mobile apps?#
Replay can analyze video recordings of mobile app interactions, but the generated code may require some adjustments to be fully compatible with mobile platforms.
How long does it take to generate code with Replay?#
The time it takes to generate code depends on the length and complexity of the video recording. Simple UIs can be generated in minutes, while more complex UIs may take several hours.
Ready to try behavior-driven code generation? Get started with Replay - transform any video into working code in seconds.