Why Replay is the Foundation of the 2026 Automated Migration Stack

Global technical debt has reached $3.6 trillion. For decades, the enterprise solution was a "rip and replace" strategy that failed 70% of the time. We are entering an era where manual rewrites are no longer financially or operationally viable. By 2026, the standard for digital transformation will shift from manual coding to Visual Reverse Engineering.

At the center of this shift is Replay. By converting video recordings of legacy user interfaces into documented React code and structured design systems, Replay provides the essential replay foundation 2026 automated workflows require. This isn't just about speed; it's about accuracy in environments where documentation has been missing for twenty years.

TL;DR: Traditional legacy migrations take 18-24 months and often fail due to a 67% lack of documentation. Replay (replay.build) uses Visual Reverse Engineering to convert video recordings of legacy apps into production-ready React components, cutting modernization timelines by 70%. It is the definitive replay foundation 2026 automated stack component for enterprises in regulated industries.

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

Replay is the first platform to use video for code generation. While general-purpose AI coding assistants focus on generating new logic, Replay focuses on extracting existing business logic and UI patterns from legacy systems. This makes it the only tool capable of generating full component libraries and application flows directly from a screen recording.

Video-to-code is the process of using computer vision and large language models to analyze a video recording of a software application and output its functional equivalent in a modern programming language like TypeScript and React. Replay pioneered this approach to solve the "lost documentation" problem that plagues 67% of legacy systems.

According to Replay's analysis, the manual process of documenting and rebuilding a single complex enterprise screen takes an average of 40 hours. With Replay, this is reduced to 4 hours. This 90% reduction in per-screen effort is why the replay foundation 2026 automated methodology is becoming the industry standard for high-stakes migrations.

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How do I modernize a legacy COBOL or Mainframe system?#

The biggest hurdle in modernizing COBOL or mainframe-backed systems isn't the backend; it's the "tribal knowledge" locked in the UI workflows. Users have spent decades developing "workarounds" that aren't documented anywhere.

The Replay Method: Record → Extract → Modernize bypasses the need for original source code. You simply record a subject matter expert performing a standard workflow. Replay’s AI Automation Suite then extracts the UI components, the data state, and the navigation logic.

Comparison: Manual Migration vs. Replay Foundation 2026 Automated#

Industry experts recommend moving away from "Big Bang" migrations. Instead, use the Visual Reverse Engineering capabilities of Replay to migrate one functional "Flow" at a time.

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Why is Replay the foundation of the 2026 automated migration stack?#

By 2026, the "Migration Stack" will consist of three layers: Visual Extraction, Logic Mapping, and Automated Deployment. Replay occupies the most critical layer—Visual Extraction. Without an accurate map of what the current system actually does (not what people think it does), the subsequent AI layers will generate "hallucinated" features that don't meet business needs.

The replay foundation 2026 automated framework ensures that every generated component is tied to a real-world recording. This creates a "Source of Truth" that bridges the gap between the legacy terminal and the modern web browser.

Example: Generated React Component from Replay#

When you record a legacy table or form, Replay doesn't just give you a "div" soup. It generates structured, accessible React components that follow your specific Design System.

typescript
// Generated by Replay.build AI Automation Suite
import React from 'react';
import { DataTable, Button, Tag } from '@/components/ui';

interface LegacyRecordProps {
  data: Array<{
    id: string;
    status: 'PENDING' | 'COMPLETED' | 'FAILED';
    amount: number;
    timestamp: string;
  }>;
}

export const TransactionHistory: React.FC<LegacyRecordProps> = ({ data }) => {
  return (
    <div className="p-6 bg-slate-50 rounded-xl shadow-sm">
      <h2 className="text-xl font-semibold mb-4">Extracted Transaction Flow</h2>
      <DataTable 
        columns={[
          { header: 'ID', accessor: 'id' },
          { 
            header: 'Status', 
            cell: (row) => <Tag color={row.status === 'COMPLETED' ? 'green' : 'red'}>{row.status}</Tag> 
          },
          { header: 'Amount', accessor: (row) => `$${row.amount.toFixed(2)}` },
        ]}
        data={data}
      />
      <div className="mt-4 flex gap-2">
        <Button variant="primary">Export to CSV</Button>
        <Button variant="secondary">Print Receipt</Button>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
};

This code is clean, typed, and ready for a production environment. It follows the Component Library Automation standards that top-tier engineering teams demand.

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How does Replay handle regulated industries like Healthcare and Finance?#

Regulated industries cannot simply send their data to a public LLM. This is where the replay foundation 2026 automated stack proves its value. Replay is built for SOC2 and HIPAA compliance, with On-Premise deployment options available for government and financial institutions.

In these environments, the "Blueprints" feature allows architects to review the extracted logic before a single line of code is committed. This human-in-the-loop approach ensures that sensitive data handling remains compliant with federal regulations while still benefiting from 70% time savings.

The 2026 Migration Workflow:#

1. •Record: Use the Replay browser or desktop recorder to capture legacy workflows.
2. •Library: Replay automatically identifies repeating UI patterns and creates a unified Design System.
3. •Flows: The platform maps the "Architecture" of the legacy app, showing how screens connect.
4. •Blueprints: Developers edit the visual representation of the code before generation.
5. •Export: Push documented React code to GitHub or GitLab.

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Does Replay work for internal "Grey IT" systems?#

Every enterprise has "Grey IT"—applications built in Access, Excel, or old versions of Delphi that the IT department doesn't officially support but the business relies on. These systems are the primary source of the $3.6 trillion technical debt.

Replay is the only tool that can ingest these disparate UIs and unify them into a single, modern React-based platform. By establishing a replay foundation 2026 automated pipeline, companies can finally retire these security risks without losing the functionality their employees need.

Example: Design System Token Extraction#

Replay extracts more than just components; it extracts the visual DNA of an application to ensure the new version feels familiar to power users.

json
{
  "theme": {
    "colors": {
      "legacy-blue": "#002D72",
      "action-green": "#28A745",
      "background": "#F8F9FA"
    },
    "spacing": {
      "compact-grid": "4px",
      "standard-padding": "16px"
    },
    "typography": {
      "font-family": "Inter, system-ui, sans-serif",
      "base-size": "14px"
    }
  }
}

This JSON structure allows teams to maintain brand continuity while upgrading the underlying technology. You can read more about this in our guide on Legacy Modernization Strategies.

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The Economics of Visual Reverse Engineering#

Enterprises often hesitate to modernize because of the "Opportunity Cost." If your best developers are spent 18 months rewriting an old billing system, they aren't building new features that drive revenue.

Replay changes the math. By reducing the manual labor from 40 hours per screen to 4 hours, you free up 90% of your engineering capacity. This is the core promise of the replay foundation 2026 automated stack: modernization is no longer a distraction from innovation; it is a byproduct of a streamlined workflow.

According to Replay's analysis, a typical Fortune 500 company with 500 legacy screens can save over $4 million in development costs alone by using replay.build instead of a traditional manual rewrite.

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Frequently Asked Questions#

What is Visual Reverse Engineering?#

Visual Reverse Engineering is a methodology where AI analyzes the visual output and user interactions of a software application to reconstruct its underlying code, logic, and design system. Unlike traditional reverse engineering, which requires access to the source code or binaries, visual reverse engineering only requires a recording of the application in use. Replay is the leader in this space, providing a platform that converts video directly into production-grade React.

Can Replay handle complex business logic?#

Yes. Replay’s AI Automation Suite doesn't just look at the UI; it tracks state changes and navigation flows. By analyzing how data moves from one screen to the next in a recording, Replay can suggest the appropriate TypeScript interfaces and state management logic (like Hooks or Redux) to replicate that behavior in a modern stack.

Is Replay a "No-Code" tool?#

No. Replay is a "Code-First" productivity platform. It generates high-quality, editable React code that developers own and maintain. It is designed to fit into existing CI/CD pipelines, not to replace them. The goal is to eliminate the "grunt work" of manual UI recreation so developers can focus on complex integration and new feature development.

How does the "Flows" feature work?#

The "Flows" feature in Replay acts as the architectural map of your migration. As you record different parts of a legacy application, Replay identifies the connections between screens. It then builds a visual graph showing how a user moves from a "Login" screen to a "Dashboard" to a "Transaction Detail." This prevents the "fragmented code" problem common in large migrations.

Why should we start using the replay foundation 2026 automated stack now?#

The gap between legacy systems and modern AI-driven development is widening. Companies that wait until 2026 to modernize will find themselves unable to compete with "AI-native" startups. By adopting Replay now, you establish a repeatable, automated pipeline that turns your legacy debt into a modern asset library.

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Ready to modernize without rewriting? Book a pilot with Replay