Solve UI State Issues: Replay AI Manages State With Zustand from UI Videos

TL;DR: Replay uses AI to analyze UI videos and generate fully functional React components with Zustand state management, streamlining development and solving common UI state issues.

Stop Wrestling with UI State: Replay AI Uses Zustand from UI Videos#

UI state management is a constant battle. From prop drilling to unexpected side effects, keeping your UI in sync with your data can feel like herding cats. Traditional screenshot-to-code tools exacerbate this problem by simply recreating static visuals, completely missing the dynamic nature of user interfaces.

Replay offers a fundamentally different approach. Instead of relying on static images, Replay analyzes videos of user interactions. This "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" allows our AI, powered by Gemini, to understand the intent behind user actions and generate code that accurately reflects the dynamic state of the UI. A key part of that process is the automatic generation of state management using Zustand.

Why Zustand?#

Zustand is a small, fast, and scalable bearbones state management solution. It's particularly well-suited for React applications due to its simplicity and ease of integration. Replay chose Zustand for its generated code because:

• •Minimal Boilerplate: Zustand requires very little setup, allowing Replay to quickly generate functional state management without unnecessary complexity.
• •Centralized State: Zustand provides a single source of truth for your application's state, making it easier to reason about and debug.
• •Easy to Learn: The API is straightforward and intuitive, making it easy for developers to understand and modify the generated code.

How Replay Generates Zustand State from UI Videos#

Replay's AI engine uses a multi-stage process to extract state information from UI videos and generate Zustand stores:

1. •Behavioral Analysis: The AI analyzes the video, identifying user interactions like clicks, form inputs, and page transitions. It understands the intent behind these actions, not just the visual changes.
2. •State Variable Identification: Based on the observed behavior, Replay identifies the state variables that are being modified. For example, if a user types into a search bar, Replay infers that there is a state variable representing the search query.
3. •State Update Logic Generation: Replay generates the necessary Zustand actions to update the state variables based on the user's interactions. This includes handling form submissions, updating lists, and managing conditional rendering.
4. •Component Integration: The generated Zustand store is then seamlessly integrated into the React components, ensuring that the UI updates automatically in response to state changes.

Example: Generating a Simple Counter Component#

Let's say you record a video of a simple counter component with increment and decrement buttons. Replay can analyze this video and generate the following code:

typescript
import create from 'zustand';

interface CounterState {
  count: number;
  increment: () => void;
  decrement: () => void;
}

const useCounterStore = create<CounterState>((set) => ({
  count: 0,
  increment: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count + 1 })),
  decrement: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count - 1 })),
}));

export default useCounterStore;

This code defines a Zustand store with a

state variable and and actions. The generated React component would then use this store to manage the counter's state.

typescript
import useCounterStore from './counterStore';

const Counter = () => {
  const { count, increment, decrement } = useCounterStore();

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <button onClick={increment}>Increment</button>
      <button onClick={decrement}>Decrement</button>
    </div>
  );
};

export default Counter;

This is a simplified example, but it illustrates the core principle of Replay's state generation. Replay can handle much more complex scenarios, including managing multiple state variables, handling asynchronous operations, and integrating with external APIs.

Replay vs. Traditional Approaches#

Here's how Replay stacks up against other UI development methods:

Real-World Use Cases#

Replay isn't just a theoretical concept; it's a practical tool that can solve real-world UI state issues in a variety of scenarios:

• •Rapid Prototyping: Quickly generate functional prototypes from UI videos, allowing you to iterate on your designs and gather feedback faster.
• •Legacy Code Migration: Reconstruct UI components from existing applications, even if the original source code is lost or outdated.
• •UI Testing: Use Replay to generate test cases based on user interactions, ensuring that your UI behaves as expected.
• •Training and Documentation: Create interactive tutorials and documentation by recording UI videos and generating corresponding code examples.

Step-by-Step Guide: Generating a Multi-Page Form with Replay and Supabase#

Let's walk through a more complex example: generating a multi-page form that saves data to Supabase.

Step 1: Record a UI Video#

Record a video of yourself interacting with the form. Ensure all fields are filled and the submission process is complete. This video is the ONLY input Replay needs.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload the video to the Replay platform. Our AI will begin analyzing the video and reconstructing the UI.

Step 3: Review and Customize#

Replay will generate React components with Zustand state management and Supabase integration. Review the generated code, customize styles with the Style Injection feature, and adjust any logic as needed.

Step 4: Deploy#

Deploy the generated code to your hosting provider. The form will now function as intended, saving data to your Supabase database.

The generated code might look something like this (simplified for brevity):

typescript
// Zustand store for form state
import create from 'zustand';

interface FormState {
  name: string;
  email: string;
  page: number;
  setName: (name: string) => void;
  setEmail: (email: string) => void;
  nextPage: () => void;
  prevPage: () => void;
  submitForm: () => Promise<void>;
}

const useFormStore = create<FormState>((set, get) => ({
  name: '',
  email: '',
  page: 1,
  setName: (name: string) => set({ name }),
  setEmail: (email: string) => set({ email }),
  nextPage: () => set((state) => ({ page: state.page + 1 })),
  prevPage: () => set((state) => ({ page: state.page - 1 })),
  submitForm: async () => {
    // Supabase integration (replace with your actual Supabase code)
    const { data, error } = await supabase
      .from('form_submissions')
      .insert([{ name: get().name, email: get().email }]);

    if (error) {
      console.error('Error submitting form:', error);
    } else {
      console.log('Form submitted successfully:', data);
      // Reset form state after submission
      set({ name: '', email: '', page: 1 });
    }
  },
}));

export default useFormStore;

💡 Pro Tip: Use clear and concise UI videos to ensure Replay accurately captures the desired behavior. Experiment with different interaction patterns to see how Replay adapts.

📝 Note: Replay's Supabase integration requires you to configure your Supabase project and provide the necessary credentials.

⚠️ Warning: Always review the generated code to ensure it meets your specific requirements and security standards.

Benefits of Using Replay#

• •Reduced Development Time: Generate functional UI components in seconds, freeing up your time to focus on more complex tasks.
• •Improved Code Quality: Replay generates clean, well-structured code that is easy to understand and maintain.
• •Enhanced Collaboration: Share UI videos with your team and generate code together, fostering better communication and collaboration.
• •Democratized UI Development: Empower non-technical users to contribute to the UI development process by recording UI videos and generating code.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans are available for users who require more advanced functionality and higher usage limits. Check out the pricing page for more details.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

Replay analyzes videos of user interactions, while v0.dev relies on text prompts. This allows Replay to understand the dynamic behavior of the UI and generate more accurate and functional code, especially when managing UI state. Replay leverages "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" - video as the source of truth.

Can I customize the generated code?#

Yes, you have full control over the generated code. Replay provides a visual editor that allows you to modify the code and styles to meet your specific requirements.

What frameworks are supported?#

Currently, Replay primarily supports React with Zustand for state management. Support for other frameworks is planned for future releases.

How secure is Replay?#

Replay uses industry-standard security practices to protect your data. All UI videos are stored securely and are only accessible to authorized users.

---

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