diff --git a/src/util/meta.hpp b/src/util/meta.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2e22e31ceda0ff83588625486ec7a36161569733
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/util/meta.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#pragma once
+
+/* Type utilities and convenience expressions.  */
+
+#include <type_traits>
+
+namespace nest {
+namespace mc {
+namespace util {
+
+// Until C++14 ...
+
+template <typename T>
+using result_of_t = typename std::result_of<T>::type;
+
+template <bool V>
+using enable_if_t = typename std::enable_if<V>::type;
+
+// Convenience short cuts
+
+template <typename T>
+using enable_if_copy_constructible_t =
+    enable_if_t<std::is_copy_constructible<T>::value>;
+
+template <typename T>
+using enable_if_move_constructible_t =
+    enable_if_t<std::is_move_constructible<T>::value>;
+
+template <typename... T>
+using enable_if_constructible_t =
+    enable_if_t<std::is_constructible<T...>::value>;
+
+
+} // namespace util
+} // namespace mc
+} // namespace nest
diff --git a/src/util/optional.hpp b/src/util/optional.hpp
index a3c2da998d468c8564894f2db61b0340c056c70c..0d71c4a5d564b4a85db457a930f803388ee0861b 100644
--- a/src/util/optional.hpp
+++ b/src/util/optional.hpp
@@ -1,25 +1,25 @@
 #pragma once
 
-/*! \file optional.h
- *  \brief An option class with a monadic interface.
+/* An option class with a monadic interface.
  *
- *  The std::option<T> class was proposed for inclusion into C++14, but was
- *  ultimately rejected. (See N3672 proposal for details.) This class offers
- *  similar functionality, namely a class that can represent a value (or
- *  reference), or nothing at all.
+ * The std::option<T> class was proposed for inclusion into C++14, but was
+ * ultimately rejected. (See N3672 proposal for details.) This class offers
+ * similar functionality, namely a class that can represent a value (or
+ * reference), or nothing at all.
  *
- *  In addition, this class offers monadic and monoidal bindings, allowing
- *  the chaining of operations any one of which might represent failure with
- *  an unset optional value.
+ * In addition, this class offers monadic and monoidal bindings, allowing
+ * the chaining of operations any one of which might represent failure with
+ * an unset optional value.
  *
- *  One point of difference between the proposal N3672 and this implementation
- *  is the lack of constexpr versions of the methods and constructors.
+ * One point of difference between the proposal N3672 and this implementation
+ * is the lack of constexpr versions of the methods and constructors.
  */
 
 #include <type_traits>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <utility>
 
+#include "util/meta.hpp"
 #include "util/uninitialized.hpp"
 
 namespace nest {
@@ -29,135 +29,208 @@ namespace util {
 template <typename X> struct optional;
 
 struct optional_unset_error: std::runtime_error {
-    explicit optional_unset_error(const std::string &what_str): std::runtime_error(what_str) {}
-    optional_unset_error(): std::runtime_error("optional value unset") {}
+    explicit optional_unset_error(const std::string &what_str)
+        : std::runtime_error(what_str)
+    {}
+
+    optional_unset_error()
+        : std::runtime_error("optional value unset")
+    {}
 };
 
 struct optional_invalid_dereference: std::runtime_error {
-    explicit optional_invalid_dereference(const std::string &what_str): std::runtime_error(what_str) {}
-    optional_invalid_dereference(): std::runtime_error("derefernce of optional<void> value") {}
+    explicit optional_invalid_dereference(const std::string &what_str)
+        : std::runtime_error(what_str)
+    {}
+
+    optional_invalid_dereference()
+        : std::runtime_error("derefernce of optional<void> value")
+    {}
 };
 
 struct nothing_t {};
 constexpr nothing_t nothing{};
 
 namespace detail {
-    template <typename Y> struct lift_type { using type=optional<Y>; };
-    template <typename Y> struct lift_type<optional<Y>> { using type=optional<Y>; };
+    template <typename Y>
+    struct lift_type {
+        using type = optional<Y>;
+    };
+
+    template <typename Y>
+    struct lift_type<optional<Y>> {
+        using type = optional<Y>;
+    };
+
+    template <typename Y>
+    using lift_type_t = typename lift_type<Y>::type;
 
     struct optional_tag {};
 
-    template <typename X> struct is_optional {
-        enum {value=std::is_base_of<optional_tag,typename std::decay<X>::type>::value };
+    template <typename X>
+    using is_optional = std::is_base_of<optional_tag, typename std::decay<X>::type>;
+
+    template <typename D,typename X>
+    struct wrapped_type_impl {
+        using type = X;
     };
 
-    template <typename D,typename X> struct wrapped_type_ { using type=X; };
-    template <typename D,typename X> struct wrapped_type_<optional<D>,X> { using type=D; };
+    template <typename D,typename X>
+    struct wrapped_type_impl<optional<D>,X> {
+        using type = D;
+    };
 
-    template <typename X> struct wrapped_type { using type=typename wrapped_type_<typename std::decay<X>::type,X>::type; };
+    template <typename X>
+    struct wrapped_type {
+       using type = typename wrapped_type_impl<typename std::decay<X>::type,X>::type;
+    };
+
+    template <typename X>
+    using wrapped_type_t = typename wrapped_type<X>::type;
 
     template <typename X>
     struct optional_base: detail::optional_tag {
         template <typename Y> friend struct optional;
 
     protected:
-        using D=util::uninitialized<X>;
+        using data_type = util::uninitialized<X>;
 
     public:
-        using reference_type=typename D::reference_type;
-        using const_reference_type=typename D::const_reference_type;
-        using pointer_type=typename D::pointer_type;
-        using const_pointer_type=typename D::const_pointer_type;
+        using reference_type = typename data_type::reference_type;
+        using const_reference_type = typename data_type::const_reference_type;
+        using pointer_type = typename data_type::pointer_type;
+        using const_pointer_type = typename data_type::const_pointer_type;
 
     protected:
         bool set;
-        D data;
+        data_type data;
 
-        optional_base(): set(false) {}
+        optional_base() : set(false) {}
 
         template <typename T>
-        optional_base(bool set_,T&& init): set(set_) { if (set) data.construct(std::forward<T>(init)); }
+        optional_base(bool set_, T&& init) : set(set_) {
+            if (set) {
+                data.construct(std::forward<T>(init));
+            }
+        }
 
-        reference_type ref() { return data.ref(); }
+        reference_type       ref()       { return data.ref(); }
         const_reference_type ref() const { return data.cref(); }
 
     public:
-        ~optional_base() { if (set) data.destruct(); }
+        ~optional_base() {
+            if (set) {
+                data.destruct();
+            }
+        }
 
         const_pointer_type operator->() const { return data.ptr(); }
-        pointer_type operator->() { return data.ptr(); }
-            
+        pointer_type       operator->()       { return data.ptr(); }
+
         const_reference_type operator*() const { return ref(); }
-        reference_type operator*() { return ref(); }
-            
+        reference_type       operator*()       { return ref(); }
+
         reference_type get() {
-            if (set) return ref();
-            else throw optional_unset_error();
+            if (set) {
+                return ref();
+            }
+            else {
+                throw optional_unset_error();
+            }
         }
 
         const_reference_type get() const {
-            if (set) return ref();
-            else throw optional_unset_error();
+            if (set) {
+                return ref();
+            }
+            else {
+                throw optional_unset_error();
+            }
         }
 
         explicit operator bool() const { return set; }
 
         template <typename Y>
-        bool operator==(const Y &y) const { return set && ref()==y; }
+        bool operator==(const Y& y) const {
+            return set && ref()==y;
+        }
 
         template <typename Y>
-        bool operator==(const optional<Y> &o) const {
+        bool operator==(const optional<Y>& o) const {
             return (set && o.set && ref()==o.ref()) || (!set && !o.set);
         }
 
         void reset() {
-            if (set) data.destruct();
-            set=false;
+            if (set) {
+                data.destruct();
+            }
+            set = false;
         }
 
         template <typename F>
-        auto bind(F &&f) -> typename lift_type<decltype(data.apply(std::forward<F>(f)))>::type {
-            using F_result_type=decltype(data.apply(std::forward<F>(f)));
-            using result_type=typename lift_type<F_result_type>::type;
+        auto bind(F&& f) -> lift_type_t<decltype(data.apply(std::forward<F>(f)))> {
+            using F_result_type = decltype(data.apply(std::forward<F>(f)));
+            using result_type = lift_type_t<F_result_type>;
+
+            if (!set) {
+                return result_type();
+            }
 
-            if (!set) return result_type();
-            else return bind_impl<result_type,std::is_same<F_result_type,void>::value>::bind(data,std::forward<F>(f));
+            return bind_impl<result_type, std::is_void<F_result_type>::value>::
+                       bind(data, std::forward<F>(f));
         }
 
         template <typename F>
-        auto bind(F &&f) const -> typename lift_type<decltype(data.apply(std::forward<F>(f)))>::type {
-            using F_result_type=decltype(data.apply(std::forward<F>(f)));
-            using result_type=typename lift_type<F_result_type>::type;
+        auto bind(F&& f) const -> lift_type_t<decltype(data.apply(std::forward<F>(f)))> {
+            using F_result_type = decltype(data.apply(std::forward<F>(f)));
+            using result_type = lift_type_t<F_result_type>;
 
-            if (!set) return result_type();
-            else return bind_impl<result_type,std::is_same<F_result_type,void>::value>::bind(data,std::forward<F>(f));
+            if (!set) {
+                return result_type();
+            }
+
+            return bind_impl<result_type, std::is_void<F_result_type>::value>::
+                       bind(data, std::forward<F>(f));
         }
 
         template <typename F>
-        auto operator>>(F &&f) -> decltype(this->bind(std::forward<F>(f))) { return bind(std::forward<F>(f)); }
+        auto operator>>(F&& f) -> decltype(this->bind(std::forward<F>(f))) {
+            return bind(std::forward<F>(f));
+        }
 
         template <typename F>
-        auto operator>>(F &&f) const -> decltype(this->bind(std::forward<F>(f))) { return bind(std::forward<F>(f)); }
+        auto operator>>(F&& f) const -> decltype(this->bind(std::forward<F>(f))) {
+            return bind(std::forward<F>(f));
+        }
 
     private:
-        template <typename R,bool F_void_return>
+        template <typename R, bool F_void_return>
         struct bind_impl {
             template <typename DT,typename F>
-            static R bind(DT &d,F &&f) { return R(d.apply(std::forward<F>(f))); }
+            static R bind(DT& d,F&& f) {
+                return R(d.apply(std::forward<F>(f)));
+            }
         };
 
         template <typename R>
         struct bind_impl<R,true> {
             template <typename DT,typename F>
-            static R bind(DT &d,F &&f) { d.apply(std::forward<F>(f)); return R(true); }
+            static R bind(DT& d,F&& f) {
+                d.apply(std::forward<F>(f));
+                return R(true);
+            }
         };
-        
     };
-}
+
+    // type utilities
+    template <typename T>
+    using enable_unless_optional_t = enable_if_t<!is_optional<T>::value>;
+
+} // namespace detail
 
 template <typename X>
 struct optional: detail::optional_base<X> {
-    using base=detail::optional_base<X>;
+    using base = detail::optional_base<X>;
     using base::set;
     using base::ref;
     using base::reset;
@@ -166,85 +239,109 @@ struct optional: detail::optional_base<X> {
     optional(): base() {}
     optional(nothing_t): base() {}
 
-    template <typename Y=X,typename = typename std::enable_if<std::is_copy_constructible<Y>::value>::type>
-    optional(const X &x): base(true,x) {}
+    template <
+        typename Y = X,
+        typename = enable_if_copy_constructible_t<Y>
+    >
+    optional(const X& x): base(true, x) {}
 
-    template <typename Y=X,typename = typename std::enable_if<std::is_move_constructible<Y>::value>::type>
-    optional(X &&x): base(true,std::move(x)) {}
+    template <
+        typename Y = X,
+        typename = enable_if_move_constructible_t<Y>
+    >
+    optional(X&& x): base(true, std::move(x)) {}
 
-    optional(const optional &ot): base(ot.set,ot.ref()) {}
+    optional(const optional& ot): base(ot.set, ot.ref()) {}
 
     template <typename T>
-    optional(const optional<T> &ot): base(ot.set,ot.ref()) {}
+    optional(const optional<T>& ot): base(ot.set, ot.ref()) {}
 
-    optional(optional &&ot): base(ot.set,std::move(ot.ref())) {}
+    optional(optional&& ot): base(ot.set, std::move(ot.ref())) {}
 
     template <typename T>
-    optional(optional<T> &&ot): base(ot.set,std::move(ot.ref())) {}
+    optional(optional<T>&& ot): base(ot.set, std::move(ot.ref())) {}
 
-    template <typename Y,typename = typename std::enable_if<!detail::is_optional<Y>::value>::type>
-    optional &operator=(Y &&y) {
-        if (set) ref()=std::forward<Y>(y);
+    template <
+        typename Y,
+        typename = detail::enable_unless_optional_t<Y>
+    >
+    optional& operator=(Y&& y) {
+        if (set) {
+            ref() = std::forward<Y>(y);
+        }
         else {
-            set=true;
+            set = true;
             data.construct(std::forward<Y>(y));
         }
         return *this;
     }
 
-    optional &operator=(const optional &o) {
+    optional& operator=(const optional& o) {
         if (set) {
-            if (o.set) ref()=o.ref();
-            else reset();
+            if (o.set) {
+                ref() = o.ref();
+            }
+            else {
+                reset();
+            }
         }
         else {
-            set=o.set;
-            if (set) data.construct(o.ref());
+            set = o.set;
+            if (set) {
+                data.construct(o.ref());
+            }
         }
         return *this;
     }
 
-    template <typename Y=X, typename =typename std::enable_if<
-        std::is_move_assignable<Y>::value &&
-        std::is_move_constructible<Y>::value
-    >::type>
-    optional &operator=(optional &&o) {
+    template <
+        typename Y = X,
+        typename = typename std::enable_if<
+            std::is_move_assignable<Y>::value &&
+            std::is_move_constructible<Y>::value
+        >::type
+    >
+    optional& operator=(optional&& o) {
         if (set) {
-            if (o.set) ref()=std::move(o.ref());
+            if (o.set) {
+                ref() = std::move(o.ref());
+            }
             else reset();
         }
         else {
-            set=o.set;
-            if (set) data.construct(std::move(o.ref()));
+            set = o.set;
+            if (set) {
+                data.construct(std::move(o.ref()));
+            }
         }
         return *this;
     }
 };
 
 template <typename X>
-struct optional<X &>: detail::optional_base<X &> {
-    using base=detail::optional_base<X &>;
+struct optional<X&>: detail::optional_base<X&> {
+    using base=detail::optional_base<X&>;
     using base::set;
     using base::ref;
     using base::data;
 
     optional(): base() {}
     optional(nothing_t): base() {}
-    optional(X &x): base(true,x) {}
+    optional(X&x): base(true,x) {}
 
     template <typename T>
-    optional(optional<T &> &ot): base(ot.set,ot.ref()) {}
+    optional(optional<T&>& ot): base(ot.set,ot.ref()) {}
 
-    template <typename Y,typename = typename std::enable_if<!detail::is_optional<Y>::value>::type>
-    optional &operator=(Y &y) {
-        set=true;
-        ref()=y;
+    template <typename Y,typename = typename std::enable_if<!detail::is_optional<Y>()>::type>
+    optional& operator=(Y& y) {
+        set = true;
+        ref() = y;
         return *this;
     }
 
     template <typename Y>
-    optional &operator=(optional<Y &> &o) {
-        set=o.set;
+    optional& operator=(optional<Y&>& o) {
+        set = o.set;
         data.construct(o);
         return *this;
     }
@@ -256,7 +353,7 @@ struct optional<X &>: detail::optional_base<X &> {
 
 template <>
 struct optional<void>: detail::optional_base<void> {
-    using base=detail::optional_base<void>;
+    using base = detail::optional_base<void>;
     using base::set;
 
     optional(): base() {}
@@ -265,19 +362,24 @@ struct optional<void>: detail::optional_base<void> {
     optional(T): base(true,true) {}
 
     template <typename T>
-    optional(const optional<T> &o): base(o.set,true) {}
+    optional(const optional<T>& o): base(o.set,true) {}
     
     template <typename T>
-    optional &operator=(T) { set=true; return *this; }
+    optional& operator=(T) {
+        set = true;
+        return *this;
+    }
 
     template <typename T>
-    optional &operator=(const optional<T> &o) { set=o.set; return *this; }
+    optional& operator=(const optional<T>& o) {
+        set = o.set;
+        return *this;
+    }
 
-    // override equality operators
     template <typename Y>
-    bool operator==(const Y &y) const { return false; }
+    bool operator==(const Y& y) const { return false; }
 
-    bool operator==(const optional<void> &o) const {
+    bool operator==(const optional<void>& o) const {
         return (set && o.set) || (!set && !o.set);
     }
 };
@@ -286,25 +388,36 @@ struct optional<void>: detail::optional_base<void> {
 template <typename A,typename B>
 typename std::enable_if<
     detail::is_optional<A>::value || detail::is_optional<B>::value,
-    optional<typename std::common_type<typename detail::wrapped_type<A>::type,typename detail::wrapped_type<B>::type>::type>
+    optional<
+        typename std::common_type<
+            detail::wrapped_type_t<A>,
+            detail::wrapped_type_t<B>
+        >::type
+    >
 >::type
-operator|(A &&a,B &&b) {
-    return a?a:b;
+operator|(A&& a,B&& b) {
+    return a ? a : b;
 }
 
 template <typename A,typename B>
 typename std::enable_if<
     detail::is_optional<A>::value || detail::is_optional<B>::value,
-    optional<typename detail::wrapped_type<B>::type>
+    optional<detail::wrapped_type_t<B>>
 >::type
-operator&(A &&a,B &&b) {
-    using result_type=optional<typename detail::wrapped_type<B>::type>;
-    return a?b:result_type();
+operator&(A&& a,B&& b) {
+    using result_type = optional<detail::wrapped_type_t<B>>;
+    return a ? b: result_type();
 }
 
-inline optional<void> provided(bool condition) { return condition?optional<void>(true):optional<void>(); }
+inline optional<void> provided(bool condition) {
+    return condition ? optional<void>(true) : optional<void>();
+}
 
 template <typename X>
-optional<X> just(X &&x) { return optional<X>(std::forward<X>(x)); }
+optional<X> just(X&& x) {
+    return optional<X>(std::forward<X>(x));
+}
 
-}}} // namespace nest::mc::util
+} // namespace util
+} // namespace mc
+} // namespace nest
diff --git a/src/util/uninitialized.hpp b/src/util/uninitialized.hpp
index 26ebcf90ef2c94ea0645ccb7d3a94f6a01fb2510..846e46d5a2451fe1535f026ee4b801e5303a6f0c 100644
--- a/src/util/uninitialized.hpp
+++ b/src/util/uninitialized.hpp
@@ -5,10 +5,15 @@
  * The uninitialized<X> structure holds space for an item of
  * type X, leaving its construction or destruction to the user.
  * 
- * Specialisations for reference types X & and for the void type
+ * Specialisations for reference types X& and for the void type
  * allow for the handling of non-value types in a uniform manner.
  */
 
+#include <type_traits>
+#include <utility>
+
+#include "util/meta.hpp"
+
 namespace nest {
 namespace mc {
 namespace util {
@@ -19,39 +24,47 @@ namespace util {
 template <typename X>
 struct uninitialized {
 private:
-    typename std::aligned_storage<sizeof(X),alignof(X)>::type data;
+    typename std::aligned_storage<sizeof(X), alignof(X)>::type data;
 
 public:
-    using pointer_type=X *;
-    using const_pointer_type=const X *;
-    using reference_type=X &;
-    using const_reference_type=const X &;
+    using pointer_type = X*;
+    using const_pointer_type = const X*;
+    using reference_type = X&;
+    using const_reference_type = const X&;
 
-    pointer_type ptr() { return reinterpret_cast<X *>(&data); }
-    const_pointer_type cptr() const { return reinterpret_cast<const X *>(&data); }
+    pointer_type ptr() { return reinterpret_cast<X*>(&data); }
+    const_pointer_type cptr() const { return reinterpret_cast<const X*>(&data); }
 
-    reference_type ref() { return *reinterpret_cast<X *>(&data); }
-    const_reference_type cref() const { return *reinterpret_cast<const X *>(&data); }
+    reference_type ref() { return *reinterpret_cast<X*>(&data); }
+    const_reference_type cref() const { return *reinterpret_cast<const X*>(&data); }
 
     // Copy construct the value.
-    template <typename Y=X,
-              typename =typename std::enable_if<std::is_copy_constructible<Y>::value>::type>
-    void construct(const X &x) { new(&data) X(x); }
+    template <
+        typename Y = X,
+        typename = enable_if_copy_constructible_t<Y>
+    >
+    void construct(const X& x) {
+        new(&data) X(x);
+    }
 
     // General constructor for X, forwarding arguments.
-    template <typename... Y,
-              typename =typename std::enable_if<std::is_constructible<X,Y...>::value>::type>
-    void construct(Y&& ...args) { new(&data) X(std::forward<Y>(args)...); }
+    template <
+        typename... Y,
+        typename = enable_if_constructible_t<X, Y...>
+    >
+    void construct(Y&& ...args) {
+        new(&data) X(std::forward<Y>(args)...);
+    }
 
     void destruct() { ptr()->~X(); }
 
     // Apply the one-parameter functor F to the value by reference.
     template <typename F>
-    typename std::result_of<F(reference_type)>::type apply(F &&f) { return f(ref()); }
+    result_of_t<F(reference_type)> apply(F&& f) { return f(ref()); }
 
     // Apply the one-parameter functor F to the value by const reference.
     template <typename F>
-    typename std::result_of<F(const_reference_type)>::type apply(F &&f) const { return f(cref()); }
+    result_of_t<F(const_reference_type)> apply(F&& f) const { return f(cref()); }
 };
 
 /* Maintains storage for a pointer of type X, representing
@@ -63,10 +76,10 @@ private:
     X *data;
 
 public:
-    using pointer_type=X *;
-    using const_pointer_type=const X *;
-    using reference_type=X &;
-    using const_reference_type=const X &;
+    using pointer_type = X*;
+    using const_pointer_type = const X*;
+    using reference_type = X&;
+    using const_reference_type = const X&;
 
     pointer_type ptr() { return data; }
     const_pointer_type cptr() const { return data; }
@@ -74,15 +87,20 @@ public:
     reference_type ref() { return *data; }
     const_reference_type cref() const { return *data; }
 
-    void construct(X &x) { data=&x; }
+    void construct(X& x) { data = &x; }
     void destruct() {}
 
     // Apply the one-parameter functor F to the value by reference.
     template <typename F>
-    typename std::result_of<F(reference_type)>::type apply(F &&f) { return f(ref()); }
+    result_of_t<F(reference_type)> apply(F&& f) {
+        return f(ref());
+    }
+
     // Apply the one-parameter functor F to the value by const reference.
     template <typename F>
-    typename std::result_of<F(const_reference_type)>::type apply(F &&f) const { return f(cref()); }
+    result_of_t<F(const_reference_type)> apply(F&& f) const {
+        return f(cref());
+    }
 };
 
 /* Wrap a void type in an uninitialized template.
@@ -91,10 +109,10 @@ public:
  */
 template <>
 struct uninitialized<void> {
-    using pointer_type=void *;
-    using const_pointer_type=const void *;
-    using reference_type=void;
-    using const_reference_type=void;
+    using pointer_type = void*;
+    using const_pointer_type = const void*;
+    using reference_type = void;
+    using const_reference_type = void;
 
     pointer_type ptr() { return nullptr; }
     const_pointer_type cptr() const { return nullptr; }
@@ -109,20 +127,9 @@ struct uninitialized<void> {
 
     // Equivalent to f()
     template <typename F>
-    typename std::result_of<F()>::type apply(F &&f) const { return f(); }
+    result_of_t<F()> apply(F&& f) const { return f(); }
 };
 
-template <typename...>
-struct uninitialized_can_construct: std::false_type {};
-
-template <typename X,typename... Y>
-struct uninitialized_can_construct<X,Y...>: std::integral_constant<bool,std::is_constructible<X,Y...>::value> {};
-
-template <typename X,typename Y>
-struct uninitialized_can_construct<X &,Y>: std::integral_constant<bool,std::is_convertible<X &,Y>::value> {};
-
-template <typename... Y>
-struct uninitialized_can_construct<void,Y...>: std::true_type {};
-
-}}} // namespace nest::mc::util
-
+} // namespace util
+} // namespace mc
+} // namespace nest