What is the difference between `$HOME/bin` and `$HOME/.local/bin` ? When to use use one over the other?

Question

According to this post, $HOME/.local/bin is used to store user-specific binaries. But I see in this post that $HOME/bin serves a similar purpose.

What am I missing? When should I use one over the other?

I know about the difference between /usr/bin and /usr/local/bin. Is it the same here?

I also know about hidden directories and files.

Both work : I'm looking for a rule or a convention to help me choose one or the other.

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

The main difference is that $HOME/.local/bin is a hidden directory.

It doesn't matter where you store your binaries. You can store them e.g. in $HOME/binaries.

It won't change anything.