Turn Wireframes into React Code with AI-Powered Replay

TL;DR: Stop manually coding from wireframes; Replay uses AI to analyze wireframe videos and generate fully functional React code, complete with behavior and styling.

The promise of AI-powered code generation has been tantalizingly close for years. We’ve seen tools that translate mockups or screenshots into code, but they often fall short. They generate static, lifeless components that require extensive manual tweaking. Why? Because they treat visual representations as the source of truth, ignoring the crucial element of behavior. Wireframes are meant to illustrate how a user interacts with an interface, not just what it looks like.

This is where Replay changes the game. Instead of relying on static images, Replay analyzes video recordings of your wireframes in action. We call this "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction." Think of it as AI that understands user intent, not just visual pixels. By leveraging Gemini's powerful video understanding capabilities, Replay reconstructs working UI from screen recordings, bridging the gap between design and functional code.

The Problem with Traditional Wireframe-to-Code Tools#

Traditional tools that attempt to convert wireframes to code often suffer from critical limitations:

• •Lack of Dynamic Behavior: They produce static HTML and CSS, ignoring the interactive elements and transitions intended by the wireframe.
• •Inability to Understand User Flow: They can't discern the intended user journey or how different components are meant to interact.
• •Reliance on Pixel-Perfect Accuracy: Minor variations in the wireframe can lead to significant errors in the generated code.
• •Limited Customization: The generated code is often rigid and difficult to modify, requiring extensive manual intervention.

The result? A significant amount of time is still spent manually coding and debugging, negating the promised efficiency gains. You end up spending more time fixing the AI's output than writing the code yourself.

Replay: Behavior-Driven Code Generation#

Replay takes a fundamentally different approach. By analyzing video recordings of wireframes, Replay can:

• •Understand User Intent: Identify interactive elements, transitions, and intended user flows.
• •Generate Dynamic Code: Produce React components with fully functional event handlers and state management.
• •Adapt to Variations: Tolerate minor variations in the wireframe without compromising the accuracy of the generated code.
• •Enable Seamless Customization: Generate clean, well-structured code that is easy to modify and extend.

Replay uses "Behavior-Driven Reconstruction" - treating video as the source of truth. This allows for more accurate and functional code generation.

Key Features of Replay#

Here's a closer look at the features that set Replay apart:

• •Multi-Page Generation: Replay can analyze videos that demonstrate complex, multi-page user flows, generating code for entire applications.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate your generated code with Supabase for backend functionality, including data storage and authentication.
• •Style Injection: Apply custom styles to your components using CSS-in-JS or traditional CSS files.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flows captured in your videos, providing a clear overview of the application's structure.

Here's a comparison of Replay with other popular code generation tools:

📝 Note: The power of Replay lies in its ability to understand context from video, leading to more accurate and functional code.

Turning Wireframes into React Code: A Step-by-Step Guide#

Let's walk through a practical example of using Replay to generate React code from a wireframe video.

Step 1: Record Your Wireframe Demo#

Create a video recording of your wireframe in action. This video should demonstrate the intended user flow, including:

• •Clicking buttons and links
• •Entering data into forms
• •Navigating between pages
• •Triggering animations and transitions

💡 Pro Tip: Speak clearly while recording your wireframe. Narrating your actions helps Replay better understand your intent.

Step 2: Upload to Replay#

Upload your video recording to the Replay platform. Replay will automatically analyze the video and identify the key elements and interactions.

Step 3: Review and Refine#

Replay will generate a preview of the React code. Review the code and make any necessary adjustments. You can customize the styling, event handlers, and state management logic.

Step 4: Download and Integrate#

Download the generated React code and integrate it into your existing project. You can use the code as a starting point for further development or deploy it directly to production.

Example Code Generated by Replay#

Here's an example of React code that Replay might generate from a wireframe video of a simple login form:

typescript
// Generated by Replay
import React, { useState } from 'react';

const LoginForm = () => {
  const [username, setUsername] = useState('');
  const [password, setPassword] = useState('');

  const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    // Simulate API call
    const response = await fetch('/api/login', {
      method: 'POST',
      body: JSON.stringify({ username, password }),
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      },
    });

    if (response.ok) {
      alert('Login successful!');
    } else {
      alert('Login failed.');
    }
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="username">Username:</label>
        <input
          type="text"
          id="username"
          value={username}
          onChange={(e) => setUsername(e.target.value)}
        />
      </div>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="password">Password:</label>
        <input
          type="password"
          id="password"
          value={password}
          onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)}
        />
      </div>
      <button type="submit">Login</button>
    </form>
  );
};

export default LoginForm;

This code includes:

• •State management for the username and password fields.
• •An event handler for the form submission.
• •A simulated API call to a login endpoint.

This is just a simple example, but Replay can handle much more complex scenarios, including multi-page applications, animations, and data integrations.

⚠️ Warning: While Replay generates functional code, it's crucial to review and test the generated code thoroughly before deploying it to production.

The Future of Code Generation#

Replay represents a significant step forward in the evolution of code generation. By focusing on behavior and leveraging the power of video analysis, Replay empowers developers to:

• •Accelerate Development: Generate functional code in seconds, freeing up time for more complex tasks.
• •Improve Collaboration: Bridge the gap between designers and developers by providing a common language for describing user interfaces.
• •Reduce Errors: Minimize manual coding and debugging, leading to more reliable and maintainable code.

The future of code generation is about understanding user intent, not just replicating visual designs. Replay is leading the way in this new paradigm.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited features and usage. Paid plans are available for users who require more advanced functionality or higher usage limits.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

v0.dev primarily focuses on generating UI components from text prompts. Replay, on the other hand, analyzes video recordings of wireframes to understand user behavior and generate fully functional React code. Replay understands the how not just the what.

What types of wireframes does Replay support?#

Replay supports a wide range of wireframe styles, from low-fidelity sketches to high-fidelity prototypes. The more detailed and comprehensive the wireframe video, the better the generated code will be.

What frameworks does Replay support?#

Currently, Replay primarily supports React. Support for other frameworks, such as Vue and Angular, is planned for future releases.

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