It really depends on how affluent you are. There's currently not enough infrastructure in place for Swift to be a good choice for poor kids unless they are lucky outliers. Rich kids will have a higher chance of success with the language because of integration with inspiring hardware in their households.
i cannot view @Quedlinbug ’s reply, as it was Flagged By The Community, but based on
i can easily imagine why some readers may have found it difficult to engage with that in a civil manner. ultimately i think framing the discussion around acquiring (and affording) Apple hardware to be very unnecessary because, well, Swift does work on Linux.
Swift does not work perfectly on Linux, but it does work, and it works well enough that many are able to use it professionally as i have for years. i’ll also add that as someone who was raised on Ubuntu, Blender, and LibreOffice, i think there is tremendous value in immersing kids in the FOSS ecosystem from a young age as it is a great way to get them interested in being makers instead of passive consumers of software. it also gives the kids an opportunity to explore (and abandon 
) lots of creative outlets without bankrupting the parent.
TLDR; give Swift on Ubuntu a chance, especially if you’ve got a kid
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Being able to get started with hardware you've already got is a very real part of accessibility, and I think we can talk productively about how Swift shapes up there. Let's steer clear of broader statements about who can and can't afford to use Swift, though.
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Sorry, but I don't know how anyone could infer that I was "framing the discussion around acquiring (and affording) Apple hardware". That seems disingenuous.
I was responding to @Quedlinbug, who was actually the one who reframed the discussion in terms of the inability of some people to afford Apple products. My original post didn't mention Apple products at all. It was strictly about Swift 6 as a first language for kids.
As I stated (in response), it's my (subjective) belief that an entry level MacBook Air offers the best value for money you can get for a grand. I don't think Linux is more affordable. That's a projection.
I was told by a moderator, an Apple employee, that it's flame bait to talk about the economic barrier for Swift to be a great first language, and so am abandoning this forum. It was nice learning together with the rest of you.
Before I go, I'd like to clear up the misinterpretation:
The
is not a Mac. Not enough focus lately has been put on anyone, let alone kids, caring about Macs anymore. I meant the other devices that modern kids actually find enticing. With the requirement of a Mac to create for them, that's double expensive. (Swift Playgrounds solves the problem at first but will ultimately lead to a Mac sale or abandonment.)