[pxc]

.app programs which require Xcode to build weren't in the binary caches altogether, last I checked. Stuff with proprietary software in its build toolchain doesn't get built on Hydra.

I just use brew for .apps (and only for .apps) when I'm on macOS.

[JamesSwift]

Yep, I use Brew with a Brewfile to handle most casks. A select few I've manually created derivations for. This seems to be the path of much less resistance.