title: Do you prefer explicit namespaces or 'using' in C++?
body: <p>When using C++ namespaces, do you prefer to explicitly name them, like this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>std::cout &lt;&lt; "Hello, world!\n";
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Or do you prefer <code>using namespace</code>:</p>
  
  <pre><code>using namespace std;
  cout &lt;&lt; "Hello, world!\n";
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And if if you prefer the latter, do you declare your usings at file or function scope?</p>
  
  <p>Personally I prefer to explicitly name them - it's more typing but when using a mixture of namespaces (e.g. <code>std</code> and <code>boost</code>) I find it more readable.</p>