rules_ios is a Bazel rule set for building Apple platform applications (iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS). It provides rules for creating apps, frameworks, extensions, app clips, tests, and handling Apple-specific complexities like code signing, resource bundling, and multi-architecture support. The repository integrates with rules_apple and rules_swift, offering a Bazel-native alternative to Xcode builds. Key features include automatic handling of Apple Silicon compatibility via import_middleman, VFS overlays for faster builds, and comprehensive test generation. The tooling directory contains utilities like arm64-to-sim for running arm64 binaries in x86_64 simulators and SSH password helpers for VM-based testing.
rules_boost is a Bazel repository providing build rules for the Boost C++ libraries. It allows Bazel users to depend on Boost libraries using labels like @boost//:algorithm. The repository fetches Boost source code and provides platform-specific build configurations for hundreds of Boost components, handling separate compilation requirements for libraries like ASIO and Beast. While the README indicates it's legacy compared to Bazel Central Registry, it remains maintained for compatibility. The core reusable component is the boost_library macro in boost/boost.bzl, which encapsulates patterns for building C++ libraries with Bazel.