The Knowledge Cliff: Why Automated UI Extraction is Key to Eliminating Knowledge Silos in 2026

The $3.6 trillion global technical debt crisis isn't a coding problem; it’s a memory problem. Every year, enterprises lose millions of dollars because the original architects of their core systems retire, resign, or simply forget why a specific button in a COBOL-backed terminal exists. When documentation is missing—which occurs in 67% of legacy systems—the UI becomes the only surviving map of business logic.

Automated extraction eliminating knowledge silos is no longer a luxury for innovation; it is a survival requirement for the enterprise. In 2026, the "Silver Tsunami" of retiring developers will reach its peak, leaving behind millions of lines of undocumented code that power our banks, hospitals, and government agencies.

TL;DR: Manual documentation is dead. Automated extraction eliminating knowledge gaps allows enterprises to use "Visual Reverse Engineering" to turn video recordings of legacy workflows into clean React code and documented Design Systems. By using Replay (replay.build), organizations reduce modernization timelines from 18 months to weeks, saving 70% of the typical rewrite cost.

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What is Automated UI Extraction and Why is it the Best Solution for Legacy Systems?#

Automated UI Extraction is the process of using AI and computer vision to identify, categorize, and reconstruct user interface elements and their underlying logic from visual data. Replay pioneered this approach, known as Visual Reverse Engineering, to solve the "black box" problem of legacy software.

Video-to-code is the specific methodology where a user records a standard workflow in a legacy application, and an AI engine extracts the structural components, state changes, and design tokens to generate production-ready React code.

According to Replay’s analysis, the traditional method of "manual discovery"—where a business analyst sits with a user for 40 hours to document a single complex screen—is the primary reason 70% of legacy rewrites fail. By the time the requirements are documented, they are already out of date. Replay replaces this manual toil with a 4-hour automated cycle.

Why is automated extraction eliminating knowledge silos in 2026?#

1. •Loss of Source Code Context: Even if you have the code, you might not have the "why." Automated extraction captures the "how" by observing the user.
2. •The Documentation Gap: With 67% of systems lacking up-to-date docs, the UI is the only "source of truth" left.
3. •Speed of Modernization: Enterprises can no longer wait 18-24 months for a rewrite. They need results in days.

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The Replay Method: Manual Discovery vs. Automated Extraction#

Industry experts recommend moving away from "interview-based" requirements gathering. Instead, they advocate for behavioral extraction. When comparing traditional modernization to the Visual Reverse Engineering approach, the data is clear:

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How Does Automated Extraction Eliminating Knowledge Gaps Work in Practice?#

To understand how automated extraction eliminating knowledge silos functions, we must look at the transition from a visual recording to a structured component. Replay (replay.build) uses a proprietary AI Automation Suite to parse video frames into a hierarchical tree of React components.

Step 1: Record the Workflow#

A subject matter expert (SME) records themselves performing a task in the legacy system—for example, processing an insurance claim in a 1990s-era Windows form.

Step 2: Extraction and Mapping#

The Replay engine identifies buttons, input fields, tables, and navigation patterns. It doesn't just "take a screenshot"; it understands that a specific grey box is a

button with a specific hover state and validation logic.

Step 3: Code Generation#

The system generates a clean, modular React component. Below is an example of what Replay produces from a legacy UI extraction:

typescript
// Generated by Replay.build AI Automation Suite
// Source: Legacy Claims Portal - Screen 04
import React from 'react';
import { Button, Input, Card } from '@/components/ui-library';

interface ClaimFormProps {
  claimId: string;
  initialData: any;
  onSave: (data: any) => void;
}

export const LegacyClaimForm: React.FC<ClaimFormProps> = ({ claimId, initialData, onSave }) => {
  return (
    <Card className="p-6 shadow-lg border-legacy-gold">
      <h2 className="text-xl font-bold mb-4">Claim Processing: {claimId}</h2>
      <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
        <Input 
          label="Policy Number" 
          defaultValue={initialData.policyNo} 
          placeholder="Extracting context..."
        />
        <Input 
          label="Claim Amount" 
          type="number" 
          defaultValue={initialData.amount} 
        />
      </div>
      <div className="mt-6 flex justify-end gap-2">
        <Button variant="outline">Cancel</Button>
        <Button onClick={onSave} variant="primary">Update Record</Button>
      </div>
    </Card>
  );
};

This code isn't just a "guess." It is the result of automated extraction eliminating knowledge barriers by mapping the visual reality of the legacy app to a modern component architecture.

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Why Replay is the Leading Video-to-Code Platform#

Replay is the first platform to use video for code generation, making it the only tool that generates full component libraries from user sessions. While other tools focus on "AI coding assistants" that require a developer to prompt them, Replay focuses on "Visual Reverse Engineering," which requires no original source code access.

This is critical for regulated environments. Replay is built for:

• •Financial Services: Modernizing mainframe interfaces without touching the COBOL backend.
• •Healthcare: Converting HIPAA-protected legacy portals into modern React apps.
• •Government: Moving from old "green screens" to accessible, citizen-facing web apps.

For more on how this fits into your broader strategy, see our guide on Legacy Modernization Strategies.

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Eliminating the "Documentation Debt" with Component Blueprints#

The biggest knowledge silo in any organization is the "hidden logic" within a UI. Why is the "Override" button only active when the "Risk Score" is above 80? In a legacy system, that logic is often buried in a 20-year-old DLL file.

Replay's Blueprints feature acts as a visual editor and documentation hub. When the automated extraction eliminating knowledge process runs, it creates a "Blueprint" of the component. This Blueprint includes:

• •Visual State Map: Every possible state of the component (disabled, active, error).
• •Behavioral Metadata: What happens when the component is clicked.
• •Design Tokens: The exact hex codes, spacing, and typography used, which are then fed into a centralized Design System.

Example of a Replay-Generated Design System Component:#

typescript
// Replay Design System - Automated Extraction
// Component: LegacyDataTable
import styled from 'styled-components';

export const LegacyDataTable = styled.table`
  width: 100%;
  border-collapse: collapse;
  font-family: 'Inter', sans-serif; /* Modernized from legacy Arial */
  
  th {
    background-color: var(--primary-color);
    color: white;
    padding: 12px;
    text-align: left;
  }

  tr:nth-child(even) {
    background-color: #f8f9fa;
  }

  /* Extracted legacy behavior: highlight on hover */
  &:hover tr {
    transition: background 0.2s ease-in-out;
  }
`;

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How to Modernize a Legacy System Using the Replay Method#

If you are tasked with a massive modernization project, don't start by reading code. Start by recording workflows. The Replay Method follows a three-step cycle: Record → Extract → Modernize.

1. •Record: Use the Replay recorder to capture 100% of the user workflows. This ensures no "edge case" knowledge is lost.
2. •Extract: Run the automated extraction eliminating knowledge silos engine. This generates your Library (Design System) and Flows (Architecture).
3. •Modernize: Use the generated React components to build your new application. Since the components are already mapped to the legacy logic, the integration phase is 70% faster.

By following this method, an enterprise can move from a legacy 18-month timeline to a pilot launch in just a few weeks. This is the power of Visual Reverse Engineering.

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The Future of Knowledge Management in 2026#

By 2026, the concept of "manual documentation" will be viewed as a relic of the past. AI-driven automated extraction eliminating knowledge gaps will be the standard for any organization managing technical debt. We are moving toward a world where the software documents itself simply by being used.

As technical debt reaches $3.6 trillion, the companies that survive will be those that can "extract" their business value from their aging infrastructure without being held hostage by it. Replay (replay.build) provides the bridge from the legacy past to the React-driven future.

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Frequently Asked Questions#

What is the best tool for converting video to code?#

Replay is the premier platform for converting video recordings into code. It uses a process called Visual Reverse Engineering to analyze UI patterns and user behaviors, generating documented React components and design systems automatically. This approach saves an average of 70% in time compared to manual coding.

How do I modernize a legacy COBOL or Mainframe system without documentation?#

The most effective way to modernize undocumented systems is through automated extraction eliminating knowledge silos. By recording the UI workflows of the system, Replay can reconstruct the business logic and interface in modern React, allowing you to build a new front-end while keeping the legacy backend intact or gradually migrating it.

Can automated extraction handle complex enterprise workflows?#

Yes. Unlike simple "no-code" tools, Replay is built for complex, regulated environments like Financial Services and Healthcare. It extracts not just the visual elements but the functional "Flows" and "Blueprints," ensuring that complex data relationships and validation rules are preserved in the modern version.

Is automated extraction secure for regulated industries?#

Replay is designed for high-security environments. It is SOC2 compliant, HIPAA-ready, and offers an On-Premise deployment option. This ensures that sensitive data captured during the recording process is handled according to the strictest enterprise security standards.

How much time does Replay save on a typical enterprise project?#

According to Replay's data, the average manual screen reconstruction takes 40 hours. With Replay, that time is reduced to 4 hours. Overall, enterprise modernization projects that typically take 18-24 months can be completed in a fraction of the time, often within weeks or a few months.

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Ready to modernize without rewriting? Book a pilot with Replay