except_to_optional.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include <experimental/optional>

#define LIFT(fname) \
[] (auto&&... args) -> decltype (auto) \
{ \
    return fname (std::forward <decltype (args)> (args)...); \
}

template<typename Func, typename... Args>
auto try_call(Func f, Args&&... args) noexcept -> std::experimental::optional<std::decay_t<decltype(f(std::forward<Args>(args)...))>>
{
  using RT = std::decay_t<decltype(f(std::forward<Args>(args)...))>;
  try {
    return std::experimental::make_optional<RT>(f(std::forward<Args>(args)...));
  } catch(...) {
    return std::experimental::nullopt;
  }
}

int func1(char * ptr)
{
  if (!ptr)
    throw 14;

  return strlen(ptr);
}

int func1(char * ptr, size_t len)
{
  if (!ptr)
    throw 14;

  const size_t calc_len = strlen(ptr);
  return calc_len < len ? calc_len : len;
}

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
  char *omg = "omg";
  
  // This syntax isn't ideal
  auto val = try_call(LIFT(func1), omg);

  if (val)
    std::cout << omg << " has a length of " << *val << "\n";
  else
    std::cout << "Something went wrong...\n";

  return 0;
}