Exception-based component models can be generated from non-exception-based models. For example, a non-exception-based interface contract (such as a non-exception-based interface contract in a header file) for a consumable software component can be parsed. Additionally, a wrapper for the consumable software component can be generated from the non-exception-based interface contract. The wrapper can have an exception-based interface contract implementation, and the exception-based interface contract implementation can be a mirror equivalent of the non-exception-based interface contract. If the non-exception-based interface contract hints at one or more arguments as being out argument(s) for a function in the consumable software component, then predefined heuristics can be used to select one of those argument(s) to be used by the exception-based interface contract implementation as a return value for the function.