Which method are you using for creating a custom homepage in WP?

Hey guys,

which method are you using to create a custom homepage? So far I used the index.php with this filter hook:

function home_page_menu_args( $args ) {
$args['show_home'] = true;
return $args;
}
add_filter( 'wp_page_menu_args', 'home_page_menu_args' );

But there are several other solutions, like home.php, front-page.php or a custom template. I would like to use a different method now, so users select the frontpage under Settings->Reading. When using this method, is it still possible to insert the code in the index.php? If not, how can the index.php be used, because I also create a template for my blog?

I think the only scenario to reserve the index.php for the blog page will be when you choose A static page for the “Front Page” option and don’t choose a page for the “Posts Page” option.