Timeshift clarification

[Peter Linu]

Hiyall,
If I do a Timeshift using / and /home what do I get extra than isn't there using plain ole /home?

[deck_luck]

Sorry, I do not understand what you are trying to convey.

Timeshift is similar to applications like rsnapshot, BackInTime and TimeVault but with different goals. It is designed to protect only system files and settings. User files such as documents, pictures and music are excluded. This ensures that your files remains unchanged when you restore your system to an earlier date. If you need a tool to backup your documents and files please take a look at the excellent BackInTime application which is more configurable and provides options for saving user files.

Reference:
TimeShift readme

[Peter Linu]

NO.
When I started with Linux (Mint) forum an experienced person recommended that I create 2 partitions: / and /home which I did without thinking. I recently had a (another) melt-down and absent-mindedly didn't format a separate '/' partition. I'm now wondering... I assume both ways would work in the same way so why create the / partition at all?

[deck_luck]

...
I'm now wondering... I assume both ways would work in the same way so why create the / partition at all?

You must have the / (root) file system, and the /home file system is optional. It is entirely up to the user to create two separate file systems. If you able to perform the appropriate file system maintenance and backups, a separate optional /home file system is viable.

[djph]

NO.
When I started with Linux (Mint) forum an experienced person recommended that I create 2 partitions: / and /home which I did without thinking. I recently had a (another) melt-down and absent-mindedly didn't format a separate '/' partition. I'm now wondering... I assume both ways would work in the same way so why create the / partition at all?

The benefit of a separate home partition (or heck, even disk) is that if/when root (/) needs to go (e.g. for a reinstall / upgrade), you can leave your personal data (in the second partition / disk for /home) left alone.

[Aztaroth]

The benefit of a separate home partition (or heck, even disk) is that if/when root (/) needs to go (e.g. for a reinstall / upgrade), you can leave your personal data (in the second partition / disk for /home) left alone.

And the drawbacks are you can, for example, be short of space either on / or on /home instead of only being short on space on the whole. It's not so clear-cut. Some will find if better with a separate /home, others won't.