Learning Swift using voiceover?

Swift is a neat language, and if you're familiar with any programming, it's easy enough. Even if you're new, the basics aren't hard to pick up. However, sadly, the only way to run it in a way that will let you build apps for macOS, iOS, and Apple's other platforms is Xcode. Xcode isn't terrible once you get used to it, but at best, it can be confusing and frustrating.

For tutorials, I like Hacking with Swift. The tutorials walk you through everything and have all the code you'll need, though you may find yourself having to look up certain basic concepts if you're new to programming.

AppleVis has an Xcode tutorial, and while it's old, most of it still applies. The hotkeys, layout, and various areas it discusses are still accurate, even in Xcode 12. The only addition I would add is that to VoiceOver rotor has code errors and other helpful settings you may find useful. In my testing, moving by error would read the error, but not move focus, though your experience may be better.

You can also go in a different direction. Swift is an open-source language, available for multiple platforms. If you are comfortable with command line applications on Linux, you could always get ahold of a Linux machine, install Swift, and play with it that way. No Xcode to worry about, none of VoiceOver's imperfections around coding, just your preferred text editor and a command line compiler. Of course, you'll be limited to command line applications, but I'm suggesting this as a way to learn the fundamentals of both Swift and general coding, without also worrying about learning Xcode at the same time. Of course, if you don't know Linux and some shell commands already, ignore this paragraph and stick to Xcode.

I second Hacking with Swift. I've been going through their SwiftUI tutorial. Am up to about day 17. For a beginner at programming though, I would recommend their 100 Days of Swift course, as it covers the language in much greater detail. When really interested in GUIs, though, 100 Days of SwiftUI is the *only* course I've ever found that doesn't have you drag elements onto the canvas. In regard to your Xcode problem, I feel for you. It took me a while, too. Allow me to link you to a recording Oriol made, demonstrating it, upon my request. He also demos how to generate App Icons. https://oriolgomez.com/xcode.mp3