This functionality, provided by Bazel, involves retrieving an archive file from a remote location and unpacking its contents into the Bazel workspace. It is typically used to incorporate pre-built dependencies or third-party libraries into a project’s build process. For example, one might specify a URL pointing to a `.zip` or `.tar.gz` archive, along with instructions on where to place the extracted files within the project’s source tree.
The significance of this operation lies in its ability to streamline dependency management and avoid the need to manually download and integrate external code. This automated process ensures consistency and reproducibility across builds, reduces the risk of human error, and simplifies the incorporation of necessary components that are not built from source. Historically, managing external dependencies was a labor-intensive task, but this feature offers a more declarative and automated solution.
