The short answer
Yes. Rebuilt or re-downloaded automatically when needed.
What is it?
Local copies of the pod spec repositories CocoaPods uses to look up pods, kept in ~/.cocoapods/repos. Since CocoaPods 1.8 the public trunk repository is read through a CDN and stays small, but an older full clone of the master specs repository can take several gigabytes, and private spec repos you added live here too.
Local copies of pod spec repositories. CocoaPods fetches them again on the next pod install.
What happens if you delete it?
CocoaPods recreates the trunk index and clones any spec repository declared with source in a Podfile the next time you run pod install. A private repo you only added by hand with pod repo add has to be added again.
How to remove it properly
Run pod repo list, then pod repo remove <name> for the repositories you no longer need, which is the official way, or move ~/.cocoapods/repos to the Trash.
Quit the app that uses it, then move it to the Trash. Empty the Trash when you’re sure.
Before you delete it
Note the URLs of private spec repos (pod repo list shows them) before removing them.
How MoreRoom helps
MoreRoom recognises this item, shows its real size and when it was last used, and labels it “Safe to remove”. In the free version you can move it to the Trash in one click, with Undo; Pro collects every safe item at once.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to delete ~/.cocoapods/repos?
Yes. Rebuilt or re-downloaded automatically when needed. CocoaPods recreates the trunk index and clones any spec repository declared with source in a Podfile the next time you run pod install. A private repo you only added by hand with pod repo add has to be added again.
Will CocoaPods spec repositories come back after I delete it?
Yes. CocoaPods recreates the trunk index and clones any spec repository declared with source in a Podfile the next time you run pod install. A private repo you only added by hand with pod repo add has to be added again.
How do I remove CocoaPods spec repositories properly?
Run pod repo list, then pod repo remove <name> for the repositories you no longer need, which is the official way, or move ~/.cocoapods/repos to the Trash.