diff --git a/third_party/variant/.gitignore b/third_party/variant/.gitignore
index 5620e5dd1..984cc2fe8 100644
--- a/third_party/variant/.gitignore
+++ b/third_party/variant/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 .DS_Store
 out
-profiling
\ No newline at end of file
+profiling
+build
+deps
diff --git a/third_party/variant/Jamroot b/third_party/variant/Jamroot
index aead87091..aa2137537 100644
--- a/third_party/variant/Jamroot
+++ b/third_party/variant/Jamroot
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-local BOOST_DIR = "/opt/boost" ;
+local BOOST_DIR = "/usr/local" ;
 
 #using clang : : ;
 
diff --git a/third_party/variant/appveyor.yml b/third_party/variant/appveyor.yml
index 9d7c59984..050ad25dd 100644
--- a/third_party/variant/appveyor.yml
+++ b/third_party/variant/appveyor.yml
@@ -7,21 +7,11 @@ configuration:
   - Debug
   - Release
 
+os: Visual Studio 2015
+
 install:
-  - SET PATH=c:\python27;%PATH%
-  - SET PATH=C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\12.0\bin\;%PATH%
-  - git clone --quiet --depth 1 https://chromium.googlesource.com/external/gyp.git deps/gyp
-  # note windows requires --generator-output to be absolute
-  - python deps/gyp/gyp_main.py variant.gyp --depth=. -f msvs -G msvs_version=2013
-  - set MSBUILD_PLATFORM=%platform%
-  - if "%MSBUILD_PLATFORM%" == "x86" set MSBUILD_PLATFORM=Win32
-  - msbuild variant.sln /nologo /p:Configuration=%configuration%;Platform=%MSBUILD_PLATFORM%
-  - .\"%configuration%"\tests.exe
+  - CALL scripts\build-appveyor.bat
 
-build: OFF
-
-test: OFF
-
-test_script: OFF
-
-deploy: OFF
+build: off
+test: off
+deploy: off
diff --git a/third_party/variant/common.gypi b/third_party/variant/common.gypi
index 67e333b7e..d4f09f880 100644
--- a/third_party/variant/common.gypi
+++ b/third_party/variant/common.gypi
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     ["OS=='win'", {
           "target_defaults": {
             "default_configuration": "Release_x64",
-            "msbuild_toolset":"CTP_Nov2013",
+            "msbuild_toolset":"v140",
             "msvs_settings": {
               "VCCLCompilerTool": {
                 "ExceptionHandling": 1, # /EHsc
diff --git a/third_party/variant/scripts/build-appveyor.bat b/third_party/variant/scripts/build-appveyor.bat
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9b9d7c8db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/third_party/variant/scripts/build-appveyor.bat
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+@ECHO OFF
+SETLOCAL
+
+SET PATH=c:\python27;%PATH%
+
+ECHO activating VS command prompt
+IF /I "%PLATFORM"=="x64" (
+  CALL "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" amd64
+) ELSE (
+  CALL "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 14.0\VC\vcvarsall.bat" x86
+)
+
+IF NOT EXIST deps\gyp git clone --depth 1 https://chromium.googlesource.com/external/gyp.git deps/gyp
+
+CALL deps\gyp\gyp.bat variant.gyp --depth=. ^
+-f msvs ^
+-G msvs_version=2015 ^
+--generator-output=build
+
+SET MSBUILD_PLATFORM=%platform%
+IF /I "%MSBUILD_PLATFORM%" == "x86" SET MSBUILD_PLATFORM=Win32
+
+
+msbuild ^
+build\variant.sln ^
+/nologo ^
+/toolsversion:14.0 ^
+/p:PlatformToolset=v140 ^
+/p:Configuration=%configuration% ^
+/p:Platform=%MSBUILD_PLATFORM%
+
+build\"%configuration%"\tests.exe
diff --git a/third_party/variant/scripts/build-local.bat b/third_party/variant/scripts/build-local.bat
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..34a2e6112
--- /dev/null
+++ b/third_party/variant/scripts/build-local.bat
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+@ECHO OFF
+SETLOCAL
+
+SET platform=x64
+SET configuration=Release
+
+CALL scripts\build-appveyor.bat
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/third_party/variant/test/bench_variant.cpp b/third_party/variant/test/bench_variant.cpp
index f27124593..474e3c36c 100644
--- a/third_party/variant/test/bench_variant.cpp
+++ b/third_party/variant/test/bench_variant.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@
 #include <boost/timer/timer.hpp>
 #include "variant.hpp"
 
-#define TEXT "Testing various variant implementations with a longish string ........................................."
+#define TEXT_SHORT "Test"
+#define TEXT_LONG "Testing various variant implementations with a longish string ........................................."
+#define NUM_SAMPLES 3
 //#define BOOST_VARIANT_MINIMIZE_SIZE
 
 using namespace mapbox;
@@ -52,9 +54,9 @@ struct dummy : boost::static_visitor<>
         : v_(v) {}
 
     template <typename T>
-    void operator() (T const& val) const
+    void operator() (T && val) const
     {
-        v_ = val;
+        v_ = std::move(val);
     }
     V & v_;
 };
@@ -66,9 +68,9 @@ struct dummy2 : util::static_visitor<>
         : v_(v) {}
 
     template <typename T>
-    void operator() (T const& val) const
+    void operator() (T && val) const
     {
-        v_.template set<T>(val);
+        v_ = std::move(val);
     }
     V & v_;
 };
@@ -79,7 +81,8 @@ void run_boost_test(std::size_t runs)
     h.data.reserve(runs);
     for (std::size_t i=0; i< runs; ++i)
     {
-        h.append_move(std::string(TEXT));
+        h.append_move(std::string(TEXT_SHORT));
+        h.append_move(std::string(TEXT_LONG));
         h.append_move(123);
         h.append_move(3.14159);
     }
@@ -98,7 +101,8 @@ void run_variant_test(std::size_t runs)
     h.data.reserve(runs);
     for (std::size_t i=0; i< runs; ++i)
     {
-        h.append_move(std::string(TEXT));
+        h.append_move(std::string(TEXT_SHORT));
+        h.append_move(std::string(TEXT_LONG));
         h.append_move(123);
         h.append_move(3.14159);
     }
@@ -125,77 +129,50 @@ int main (int argc, char** argv)
     const std::size_t NUM_RUNS = static_cast<std::size_t>(std::stol(argv[1]));
 
 #ifdef SINGLE_THREADED
+
+    for (std::size_t j = 0; j < NUM_SAMPLES; ++j)
     {
-        std::cerr << "custom variant: ";
-        boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer t;
-        run_variant_test(NUM_RUNS);
-    }
-    {
-        std::cerr << "boost variant: ";
-        boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer t;
-        run_boost_test(NUM_RUNS);
-    }
-    {
-        std::cerr << "custom variant: ";
-        boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer t;
-        run_variant_test(NUM_RUNS);
-    }
-    {
-        std::cerr << "boost variant: ";
-        boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer t;
-        run_boost_test(NUM_RUNS);
+
+        {
+            std::cerr << "custom variant: ";
+            boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer t;
+            run_variant_test(NUM_RUNS);
+        }
+        {
+            std::cerr << "boost variant: ";
+            boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer t;
+            run_boost_test(NUM_RUNS);
+        }
     }
+
 #else
+    for (std::size_t j = 0; j < NUM_SAMPLES; ++j)
     {
-        typedef std::vector<std::unique_ptr<std::thread>> thread_group;
-        typedef thread_group::value_type value_type;
-        thread_group tg;
-        std::cerr << "custom variant: ";
-        boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer timer;
-        for (std::size_t i=0; i<THREADS; ++i)
         {
-            tg.emplace_back(new std::thread(run_variant_test, NUM_RUNS));
+            typedef std::vector<std::unique_ptr<std::thread>> thread_group;
+            typedef thread_group::value_type value_type;
+            thread_group tg;
+            std::cerr << "custom variant: ";
+            boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer timer;
+            for (std::size_t i=0; i<THREADS; ++i)
+            {
+                tg.emplace_back(new std::thread(run_variant_test, NUM_RUNS));
+            }
+            std::for_each(tg.begin(), tg.end(), [](value_type & t) {if (t->joinable()) t->join();});
         }
-        std::for_each(tg.begin(), tg.end(), [](value_type & t) {if (t->joinable()) t->join();});
-    }
 
-    {
-        typedef std::vector<std::unique_ptr<std::thread>> thread_group;
-        typedef thread_group::value_type value_type;
-        thread_group tg;
-        std::cerr << "boost variant: ";
-        boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer timer;
-        for (std::size_t i=0; i<THREADS; ++i)
         {
-            tg.emplace_back(new std::thread(run_boost_test, NUM_RUNS));
+            typedef std::vector<std::unique_ptr<std::thread>> thread_group;
+            typedef thread_group::value_type value_type;
+            thread_group tg;
+            std::cerr << "boost variant: ";
+            boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer timer;
+            for (std::size_t i=0; i<THREADS; ++i)
+            {
+                tg.emplace_back(new std::thread(run_boost_test, NUM_RUNS));
+            }
+            std::for_each(tg.begin(), tg.end(), [](value_type & t) {if (t->joinable()) t->join();});
         }
-        std::for_each(tg.begin(), tg.end(), [](value_type & t) {if (t->joinable()) t->join();});
-    }
-
-    {
-        typedef std::vector<std::unique_ptr<std::thread>> thread_group;
-        typedef thread_group::value_type value_type;
-        thread_group tg;
-        std::cerr << "custom variant: ";
-        boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer timer;
-        for (std::size_t i=0; i<THREADS; ++i)
-        {
-            tg.emplace_back(new std::thread(run_variant_test, NUM_RUNS));
-        }
-        std::for_each(tg.begin(), tg.end(), [](value_type & t) {if (t->joinable()) t->join();});
-    }
-
-    {
-        typedef std::vector<std::unique_ptr<std::thread>> thread_group;
-        typedef thread_group::value_type value_type;
-        thread_group tg;
-        std::cerr << "boost variant: ";
-        boost::timer::auto_cpu_timer timer;
-        for (std::size_t i=0; i<THREADS; ++i)
-        {
-            tg.emplace_back(new std::thread(run_boost_test, NUM_RUNS));
-        }
-        std::for_each(tg.begin(), tg.end(), [](value_type & t) {if (t->joinable()) t->join();});
     }
 #endif
 
diff --git a/third_party/variant/variant.hpp b/third_party/variant/variant.hpp
index 837b162df..90aacae00 100644
--- a/third_party/variant/variant.hpp
+++ b/third_party/variant/variant.hpp
@@ -90,6 +90,21 @@ struct value_traits
         (direct_index == invalid_value) ? convertible_type<T, Types...>::index : direct_index;
 };
 
+// check if T is in Types...
+template <typename T, typename...Types>
+struct has_type;
+
+template <typename T, typename First, typename... Types>
+struct has_type<T, First, Types...>
+{
+    static constexpr bool value = std::is_same<T, First>::value
+        || has_type<T, Types...>::value;
+};
+
+template <typename T>
+struct has_type<T> : std::false_type {};
+//
+
 template <typename T, typename...Types>
 struct is_valid_type;
 
@@ -214,6 +229,20 @@ struct variant_helper<T, Types...>
             variant_helper<Types...>::copy(old_id, old_value, new_value);
         }
     }
+
+    VARIANT_INLINE static void direct_swap(const std::size_t id, void * lhs, void * rhs)
+    {
+        using std::swap; //enable ADL
+        if (id == sizeof...(Types))
+        {
+            // both lhs and rhs hold T
+            swap(*reinterpret_cast<T*>(lhs), *reinterpret_cast<T*>(rhs));
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            variant_helper<Types...>::direct_swap(id, lhs, rhs);
+        }
+    }
 };
 
 template<> struct variant_helper<>
@@ -221,6 +250,7 @@ template<> struct variant_helper<>
     VARIANT_INLINE static void destroy(const std::size_t, void *) {}
     VARIANT_INLINE static void move(const std::size_t, void *, void *) {}
     VARIANT_INLINE static void copy(const std::size_t, const void *, void *) {}
+    VARIANT_INLINE static void direct_swap(const std::size_t, void *, void *) {}
 };
 
 namespace detail {
@@ -561,16 +591,33 @@ public:
         helper_type::move(old.type_index, &old.data, &data);
     }
 
-    friend void swap(variant<Types...> & first, variant<Types...> & second)
+private:
+    VARIANT_INLINE void copy_assign(variant<Types...> const& rhs)
     {
-        using std::swap; //enable ADL
-        swap(first.type_index, second.type_index);
-        swap(first.data, second.data);
+        helper_type::destroy(type_index, &data);
+        type_index = detail::invalid_value;
+        helper_type::copy(rhs.type_index, &rhs.data, &data);
+        type_index = rhs.type_index;
     }
 
-    VARIANT_INLINE variant<Types...>& operator=(variant<Types...> other)
+    VARIANT_INLINE void move_assign(variant<Types...> && rhs)
     {
-        swap(*this, other);
+        helper_type::destroy(type_index, &data);
+        type_index = detail::invalid_value;
+        helper_type::move(rhs.type_index, &rhs.data, &data);
+        type_index = rhs.type_index;
+    }
+
+public:
+    VARIANT_INLINE variant<Types...>& operator=(variant<Types...> &&  other)
+    {
+        move_assign(std::move(other));
+        return *this;
+    }
+
+    VARIANT_INLINE variant<Types...>& operator=(variant<Types...> const& other)
+    {
+        copy_assign(other);
         return *this;
     }
 
@@ -580,7 +627,7 @@ public:
     VARIANT_INLINE variant<Types...>& operator=(T && rhs) noexcept
     {
         variant<Types...> temp(std::forward<T>(rhs));
-        swap(*this, temp);
+        move_assign(std::move(temp));
         return *this;
     }
 
@@ -589,13 +636,14 @@ public:
     VARIANT_INLINE variant<Types...>& operator=(T const& rhs)
     {
         variant<Types...> temp(rhs);
-        swap(*this, temp);
+        copy_assign(temp);
         return *this;
     }
 
     template<typename T>
     VARIANT_INLINE bool is() const
     {
+        static_assert(detail::has_type<T, Types...>::value, "invalid type in T in `is<T>()` for this variant");
         return (type_index == detail::direct_type<T, Types...>::index);
     }
 
@@ -613,7 +661,9 @@ public:
     }
 
     // get<T>()
-    template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<(detail::direct_type<T, Types...>::index != detail::invalid_value)>::type* = nullptr>
+    template<typename T, typename std::enable_if<
+                         (detail::direct_type<T, Types...>::index != detail::invalid_value)
+                         >::type* = nullptr>
     VARIANT_INLINE T& get()
     {
         if (type_index == detail::direct_type<T, Types...>::index)