diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index 4cca9a4a8..dfcbea536 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -5,4 +5,7 @@
 [submodule "test/data-visual"]
 	path = test/data-visual
 	url = https://github.com/mapnik/test-data-visual.git
-	branch = master
\ No newline at end of file
+	branch = master
+[submodule "deps/mapbox/variant"]
+	path = deps/mapbox/variant
+	url = https://github.com/mapbox/variant.git
diff --git a/deps/mapbox/variant b/deps/mapbox/variant
new file mode 160000
index 000000000..861faa812
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deps/mapbox/variant
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Subproject commit 861faa8125ae7c2d9e41e33b3d5d97a17213c415
diff --git a/include/mapnik/util/recursive_wrapper.hpp b/include/mapnik/util/recursive_wrapper.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 16a670f1e..000000000
--- a/include/mapnik/util/recursive_wrapper.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,150 +0,0 @@
-/*****************************************************************************
- *
- * This file is part of Mapnik (c++ mapping toolkit)
- *
- * Copyright (C) 2015 Artem Pavlenko
- *
- * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
- * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
- * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
- * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
- *
- * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
- * Lesser General Public License for more details.
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
- * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
- * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
- *
- *****************************************************************************/
-
-
-#ifndef MAPNIK_UTIL_VARIANT_RECURSIVE_WRAPPER_HPP
-#define MAPNIK_UTIL_VARIANT_RECURSIVE_WRAPPER_HPP
-
-#include <utility>
-
-namespace mapnik { namespace util {
-
-template <typename T>
-class recursive_wrapper
-{
-public:
-    using type = T;
-private:
-
-    T* p_;
-
-public:
-
-    ~recursive_wrapper();
-    recursive_wrapper();
-
-    recursive_wrapper(recursive_wrapper const& operand);
-    recursive_wrapper(T const& operand);
-    recursive_wrapper(recursive_wrapper&& operand);
-    recursive_wrapper(T&& operand);
-
-private:
-
-    void assign(const T& rhs);
-
-public:
-
-    inline recursive_wrapper& operator=(recursive_wrapper const& rhs)
-    {
-        assign( rhs.get() );
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    inline recursive_wrapper& operator=(T const& rhs)
-    {
-        assign( rhs );
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    inline void swap(recursive_wrapper& operand) noexcept
-    {
-        T* temp = operand.p_;
-        operand.p_ = p_;
-        p_ = temp;
-    }
-
-
-    recursive_wrapper& operator=(recursive_wrapper&& rhs) noexcept
-    {
-        swap(rhs);
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    recursive_wrapper& operator=(T&& rhs)
-    {
-        get() = std::move(rhs);
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-
-public:
-
-    T& get() { return *get_pointer(); }
-    const T& get() const { return *get_pointer(); }
-    T* get_pointer() { return p_; }
-    const T* get_pointer() const { return p_; }
-    operator T const&() const { return this->get(); }
-    operator T&() { return this->get(); }
-};
-
-template <typename T>
-recursive_wrapper<T>::~recursive_wrapper()
-{
-    delete p_;
-}
-
-template <typename T>
-recursive_wrapper<T>::recursive_wrapper()
-    : p_(new T)
-{
-}
-
-template <typename T>
-recursive_wrapper<T>::recursive_wrapper(recursive_wrapper const& operand)
-    : p_(new T( operand.get() ))
-{
-}
-
-template <typename T>
-recursive_wrapper<T>::recursive_wrapper(T const& operand)
-    : p_(new T(operand))
-{
-}
-
-template <typename T>
-recursive_wrapper<T>::recursive_wrapper(recursive_wrapper&& operand)
-    : p_(operand.p_)
-{
-    operand.p_ = nullptr;
-}
-
-template <typename T>
-recursive_wrapper<T>::recursive_wrapper(T&& operand)
-    : p_(new T( std::move(operand) ))
-{
-}
-
-template <typename T>
-void recursive_wrapper<T>::assign(const T& rhs)
-{
-    this->get() = rhs;
-}
-
-template <typename T>
-inline void swap(recursive_wrapper<T>& lhs, recursive_wrapper<T>& rhs) noexcept
-{
-    lhs.swap(rhs);
-}
-
-}}
-
-#endif // MAPNIK_UTIL_VARIANT_RECURSIVE_WRAPPER_HPP
diff --git a/include/mapnik/util/variant.hpp b/include/mapnik/util/variant.hpp
index 7ddccefd7..8473903e0 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/util/variant.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/util/variant.hpp
@@ -24,854 +24,27 @@
 #define MAPNIK_UTIL_VARIANT_HPP
 
 #include <mapnik/config.hpp>
-
-#include <utility> // swap
-#include <typeinfo>
-#include <type_traits>
-#include <stdexcept> // runtime_error
-#include <new> // operator new
-#include <cstddef> // size_t
-#include <iosfwd>
-#include <string>
-
-#include "recursive_wrapper.hpp"
-
 #include <boost/mpl/vector.hpp> // spirit support
-
-#ifdef _MSC_VER
- // http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/z8y1yy88.aspx
- #ifdef NDEBUG
-  #define VARIANT_INLINE __forceinline
- #else
-  #define VARIANT_INLINE __declspec(noinline)
- #endif
-#else
- #ifdef NDEBUG
-  #define VARIANT_INLINE inline __attribute__((always_inline))
- #else
-  #define VARIANT_INLINE __attribute__((noinline))
- #endif
-#endif
-
-#define VARIANT_MAJOR_VERSION 0
-#define VARIANT_MINOR_VERSION 1
-#define VARIANT_PATCH_VERSION 0
-
-// translates to 100
-#define VARIANT_VERSION (VARIANT_MAJOR_VERSION*100000) + (VARIANT_MINOR_VERSION*100) + (VARIANT_PATCH_VERSION)
+#include <mapbox/variant/variant.hpp>
 
 namespace mapnik { namespace util {
 
-// static visitor
-template <typename R = void>
-struct static_visitor
-{
-    using result_type = R;
-protected:
-    static_visitor() {}
-    ~static_visitor() {}
-};
-
-namespace detail {
-
-static constexpr std::size_t invalid_value = std::size_t(-1);
-
-template <typename T, typename...Types>
-struct direct_type;
-
-template <typename T, typename First, typename...Types>
-struct direct_type<T, First, Types...>
-{
-    static constexpr std::size_t index = std::is_same<T, First>::value
-        ? sizeof...(Types) : direct_type<T, Types...>::index;
-};
-
 template <typename T>
-struct direct_type<T>
-{
-    static constexpr std::size_t index = invalid_value;
-};
+using recursive_wrapper = typename mapbox::util::recursive_wrapper<T>;
 
-template <typename T, typename...Types>
-struct convertible_type;
-
-template <typename T, typename First, typename...Types>
-struct convertible_type<T, First, Types...>
-{
-    static constexpr std::size_t index = std::is_convertible<T, First>::value
-        ? sizeof...(Types) : convertible_type<T, Types...>::index;
-};
-
-template <typename T>
-struct convertible_type<T>
-{
-    static constexpr std::size_t index = invalid_value;
-};
-
-template <typename T, typename...Types>
-struct value_traits
-{
-    static constexpr std::size_t direct_index = direct_type<T, Types...>::index;
-    static constexpr std::size_t index =
-        (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;
-
-template <typename T, typename First, typename... Types>
-struct is_valid_type<T, First, Types...>
-{
-    static constexpr bool value = std::is_convertible<T, First>::value
-        || is_valid_type<T, Types...>::value;
-};
-
-template <typename T>
-struct is_valid_type<T> : std::false_type {};
-
-template <std::size_t N, typename ... Types>
-struct select_type
-{
-    static_assert(N < sizeof...(Types), "index out of bounds");
-};
-
-template <std::size_t N, typename T, typename ... Types>
-struct select_type<N, T, Types...>
-{
-    using type = typename select_type<N - 1, Types...>::type;
-};
-
-template <typename T, typename ... Types>
-struct select_type<0, T, Types...>
-{
-    using type = T;
-};
-
-
-template <typename T, typename R = void>
-struct enable_if_type { using type = R; };
-
-template <typename F, typename V, typename Enable = void>
-struct result_of_unary_visit
-{
-    using type = typename std::result_of<F(V&)>::type;
-};
-
-template <typename F, typename V>
-struct result_of_unary_visit<F, V, typename enable_if_type<typename F::result_type>::type >
-{
-    using type = typename F::result_type;
-};
-
-template <typename F, typename V, class Enable = void>
-struct result_of_binary_visit
-{
-    using type = typename std::result_of<F(V&,V&)>::type;
-};
-
-
-template <typename F, typename V>
-struct result_of_binary_visit<F, V, typename enable_if_type<typename F::result_type>::type >
-{
-    using type = typename F::result_type;
-};
-
-
-} // namespace detail
-
-
-template <std::size_t arg1, std::size_t ... others>
-struct static_max;
-
-template <std::size_t arg>
-struct static_max<arg>
-{
-    static const std::size_t value = arg;
-};
-
-template <std::size_t arg1, std::size_t arg2, std::size_t ... others>
-struct static_max<arg1, arg2, others...>
-{
-    static const std::size_t value = arg1 >= arg2 ? static_max<arg1, others...>::value :
-        static_max<arg2, others...>::value;
-};
 
 template<typename... Types>
-struct variant_helper;
-
-template<typename T, typename... Types>
-struct variant_helper<T, Types...>
-{
-    VARIANT_INLINE static void destroy(const std::size_t id, void * data)
-    {
-        if (id == sizeof...(Types))
-        {
-            reinterpret_cast<T*>(data)->~T();
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            variant_helper<Types...>::destroy(id, data);
-        }
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE static void move(const std::size_t old_id, void * old_value, void * new_value)
-    {
-        if (old_id == sizeof...(Types))
-        {
-            new (new_value) T(std::move(*reinterpret_cast<T*>(old_value)));
-            //std::memcpy(new_value, old_value, sizeof(T));
-            // ^^  DANGER: this should only be considered for relocatable types e.g built-in types
-            // Also, I don't see any measurable performance benefit just yet
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            variant_helper<Types...>::move(old_id, old_value, new_value);
-        }
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE static void copy(const std::size_t old_id, const void * old_value, void * new_value)
-    {
-        if (old_id == sizeof...(Types))
-        {
-            new (new_value) T(*reinterpret_cast<const T*>(old_value));
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            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<>
-{
-    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 {
-
-template <typename T>
-struct unwrapper
-{
-    static T const& apply_const(T const& obj) {return obj;}
-    static T& apply(T & obj) {return obj;}
-};
-
-template <typename T>
-struct unwrapper<recursive_wrapper<T>>
-{
-    static auto apply_const(recursive_wrapper<T> const& obj)
-        -> typename recursive_wrapper<T>::type const&
-    {
-        return obj.get();
-    }
-    static auto apply(recursive_wrapper<T> & obj)
-        -> typename recursive_wrapper<T>::type&
-    {
-        return obj.get();
-    }
-};
-
-template <typename T>
-struct unwrapper<std::reference_wrapper<T>>
-{
-    static auto apply_const(std::reference_wrapper<T> const& obj)
-        -> typename std::reference_wrapper<T>::type const&
-    {
-        return obj.get();
-    }
-    static auto apply(std::reference_wrapper<T> & obj)
-        -> typename std::reference_wrapper<T>::type&
-    {
-        return obj.get();
-    }
-};
-
-template <typename F, typename V, typename R, typename...Types>
-struct dispatcher;
-
-template <typename F, typename V, typename R, typename T, typename...Types>
-struct dispatcher<F, V, R, T, Types...>
-{
-    using result_type = R;
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply_const(V const& v, F f)
-    {
-        if (v.get_type_index() == sizeof...(Types))
-        {
-            return f(unwrapper<T>::apply_const(v. template get<T>()));
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            return dispatcher<F, V, R, Types...>::apply_const(v, f);
-        }
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply(V & v, F f)
-    {
-        if (v.get_type_index() == sizeof...(Types))
-        {
-            return f(unwrapper<T>::apply(v. template get<T>()));
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            return dispatcher<F, V, R, Types...>::apply(v, f);
-        }
-    }
-};
-
-template<typename F, typename V, typename R>
-struct dispatcher<F, V, R>
-{
-    using result_type = R;
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply_const(V const&, F)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error(std::string("unary dispatch: FAIL ") + typeid(V).name());
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply(V &, F)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error(std::string("unary dispatch: FAIL ") + typeid(V).name());
-    }
-};
-
-
-template <typename F, typename V, typename R, typename T, typename...Types>
-struct binary_dispatcher_rhs;
-
-template <typename F, typename V, typename R, typename T0, typename T1, typename...Types>
-struct binary_dispatcher_rhs<F, V, R, T0, T1, Types...>
-{
-    using result_type = R;
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply_const(V const& lhs, V const& rhs, F f)
-    {
-        if (rhs.get_type_index() == sizeof...(Types)) // call binary functor
-        {
-            return f(unwrapper<T0>::apply_const(lhs. template get<T0>()),
-                     unwrapper<T1>::apply_const(rhs. template get<T1>()));
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            return binary_dispatcher_rhs<F, V, R, T0, Types...>::apply_const(lhs, rhs, f);
-        }
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply(V & lhs, V & rhs, F f)
-    {
-        if (rhs.get_type_index() == sizeof...(Types)) // call binary functor
-        {
-            return f(unwrapper<T0>::apply(lhs. template get<T0>()),
-                     unwrapper<T1>::apply(rhs. template get<T1>()));
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            return binary_dispatcher_rhs<F, V, R, T0, Types...>::apply(lhs, rhs, f);
-        }
-    }
-
-};
-
-template<typename F, typename V, typename R, typename T>
-struct binary_dispatcher_rhs<F, V, R, T>
-{
-    using result_type = R;
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply_const(V const&, V const&, F)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("binary dispatch: FAIL");
-    }
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply(V &, V &, F)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("binary dispatch: FAIL");
-    }
-};
-
-
-template <typename F, typename V, typename R,  typename T, typename...Types>
-struct binary_dispatcher_lhs;
-
-template <typename F, typename V, typename R, typename T0, typename T1, typename...Types>
-struct binary_dispatcher_lhs<F, V, R, T0, T1, Types...>
-{
-    using result_type = R;
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply_const(V const& lhs, V const& rhs, F f)
-    {
-        if (lhs.get_type_index() == sizeof...(Types)) // call binary functor
-        {
-            return f(unwrapper<T1>::apply_const(lhs. template get<T1>()),
-                     unwrapper<T0>::apply_const(rhs. template get<T0>()));
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            return binary_dispatcher_lhs<F, V, R, T0, Types...>::apply_const(lhs, rhs, f);
-        }
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply(V & lhs, V & rhs, F f)
-    {
-        if (lhs.get_type_index() == sizeof...(Types)) // call binary functor
-        {
-            return f(unwrapper<T1>::apply(lhs. template get<T1>()),
-                     unwrapper<T0>::apply(rhs. template get<T0>()));
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            return binary_dispatcher_lhs<F, V, R, T0, Types...>::apply(lhs, rhs, f);
-        }
-    }
-
-};
-
-template<typename F, typename V, typename R, typename T>
-struct binary_dispatcher_lhs<F, V, R, T>
-{
-    using result_type = R;
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply_const(V const&, V const&, F)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("binary dispatch: FAIL");
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply(V &, V &, F)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("binary dispatch: FAIL");
-    }
-};
-
-template <typename F, typename V, typename R, typename...Types>
-struct binary_dispatcher;
-
-template <typename F, typename V, typename R, typename T, typename...Types>
-struct binary_dispatcher<F, V, R, T, Types...>
-{
-    using result_type = R;
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply_const(V const& v0, V const& v1, F f)
-    {
-        if (v0.get_type_index() == sizeof...(Types))
-        {
-            if (v0.get_type_index() == v1.get_type_index())
-            {
-                return f(unwrapper<T>::apply_const(v0. template get<T>()),
-                         unwrapper<T>::apply_const(v1. template get<T>())); // call binary functor
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                return binary_dispatcher_rhs<F, V, R, T, Types...>::apply_const(v0, v1, f);
-            }
-        }
-        else if (v1.get_type_index() == sizeof...(Types))
-        {
-            return binary_dispatcher_lhs<F, V, R, T, Types...>::apply_const(v0, v1, f);
-        }
-        return binary_dispatcher<F, V, R, Types...>::apply_const(v0, v1, f);
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply(V & v0, V & v1, F f)
-    {
-        if (v0.get_type_index() == sizeof...(Types))
-        {
-            if (v0.get_type_index() == v1.get_type_index())
-            {
-                return f(unwrapper<T>::apply(v0. template get<T>()),
-                         unwrapper<T>::apply(v1. template get<T>())); // call binary functor
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                return binary_dispatcher_rhs<F, V, R, T, Types...>::apply(v0, v1, f);
-            }
-        }
-        else if (v1.get_type_index() == sizeof...(Types))
-        {
-            return binary_dispatcher_lhs<F, V, R, T, Types...>::apply(v0, v1, f);
-        }
-        return binary_dispatcher<F, V, R, Types...>::apply(v0, v1, f);
-    }
-};
-
-template<typename F, typename V, typename R>
-struct binary_dispatcher<F, V, R>
-{
-    using result_type = R;
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply_const(V const&, V const&, F)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("binary dispatch: FAIL");
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE static result_type apply(V &, V &, F)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("binary dispatch: FAIL");
-    }
-};
-
-// comparator functors
-struct equal_comp
-{
-    template <typename T>
-    bool operator()(T const& lhs, T const& rhs) const
-    {
-        return lhs == rhs;
-    }
-};
-
-struct less_comp
-{
-    template <typename T>
-    bool operator()(T const& lhs, T const& rhs) const
-    {
-        return lhs < rhs;
-    }
-};
-
-template <typename Variant, typename Comp>
-class comparer
+class variant : public mapbox::util::variant<Types...>
 {
 public:
-    explicit comparer(Variant const& lhs) noexcept
-        : lhs_(lhs) {}
-    comparer& operator=(comparer const&) = delete;
-    // visitor
-    template<typename T>
-    bool operator()(T const& rhs_content) const
-    {
-        T const& lhs_content = lhs_.template get<T>();
-        return Comp()(lhs_content, rhs_content);
-    }
-private:
-    Variant const& lhs_;
-};
-
-
-} // namespace detail
-
-struct no_init {};
-
-template<typename... Types>
-class variant
-{
-private:
-
-    static const std::size_t data_size = static_max<sizeof(Types)...>::value;
-    static const std::size_t data_align = static_max<alignof(Types)...>::value;
-
-    using data_type = typename std::aligned_storage<data_size, data_align>::type;
-    using helper_type = variant_helper<Types...>;
-
-    std::size_t type_index;
-    data_type data;
-
-public:
-
     // tell spirit that this is an adapted variant
     struct adapted_variant_tag;
     using types = boost::mpl::vector<Types...>;
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE variant()
-        : type_index(sizeof...(Types) - 1)
-    {
-        new (&data) typename detail::select_type<0, Types...>::type();
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE variant(no_init)
-        : type_index(detail::invalid_value) {}
-
-    // http://isocpp.org/blog/2012/11/universal-references-in-c11-scott-meyers
-    template <typename T, class = typename std::enable_if<
-                          detail::is_valid_type<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type, Types...>::value>::type>
-    VARIANT_INLINE variant(T && val) noexcept
-        : type_index(detail::value_traits<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type, Types...>::index)
-    {
-        constexpr std::size_t index = sizeof...(Types) - detail::value_traits<typename std::remove_reference<T>::type, Types...>::index - 1;
-        using target_type = typename detail::select_type<index, Types...>::type;
-        new (&data) target_type(std::forward<T>(val)); // nothrow
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE variant(variant<Types...> const& old)
-        : type_index(old.type_index)
-    {
-        helper_type::copy(old.type_index, &old.data, &data);
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE variant(variant<Types...>&& old) noexcept
-        : type_index(old.type_index)
-    {
-        helper_type::move(old.type_index, &old.data, &data);
-    }
-
-private:
-    VARIANT_INLINE void copy_assign(variant<Types...> const& rhs)
-    {
-        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 void move_assign(variant<Types...> && rhs)
-    {
-        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;
-    }
-
-    // conversions
-    // move-assign
-    template <typename T>
-    VARIANT_INLINE variant<Types...>& operator=(T && rhs) noexcept
-    {
-        variant<Types...> temp(std::forward<T>(rhs));
-        move_assign(std::move(temp));
-        return *this;
-    }
-
-    // copy-assign
-    template <typename T>
-    VARIANT_INLINE variant<Types...>& operator=(T const& rhs)
-    {
-        variant<Types...> temp(rhs);
-        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);
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE bool valid() const
-    {
-        return (type_index != detail::invalid_value);
-    }
-
-    template<typename T, typename... Args>
-    VARIANT_INLINE void set(Args&&... args)
-    {
-        helper_type::destroy(type_index, &data);
-        new (&data) T(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
-        type_index = detail::direct_type<T, Types...>::index;
-    }
-
-    // get<T>()
-    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)
-        {
-            return *reinterpret_cast<T*>(&data);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            throw std::runtime_error("in get<T>()");
-        }
-    }
-
-    template <typename T, typename std::enable_if<
-                          (detail::direct_type<T, Types...>::index != detail::invalid_value)
-                          >::type* = nullptr>
-    VARIANT_INLINE T const& get() const
-    {
-        if (type_index == detail::direct_type<T, Types...>::index)
-        {
-            return *reinterpret_cast<T const*>(&data);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            throw std::runtime_error("in get<T>()");
-        }
-    }
-
-    // get<T>() - T stored as recursive_wrapper<T>
-    template <typename T, typename std::enable_if<
-                          (detail::direct_type<recursive_wrapper<T>, Types...>::index != detail::invalid_value)
-                          >::type* = nullptr>
-    VARIANT_INLINE T& get()
-    {
-        if (type_index == detail::direct_type<recursive_wrapper<T>, Types...>::index)
-        {
-            return (*reinterpret_cast<recursive_wrapper<T>*>(&data)).get();
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            throw std::runtime_error("in get<T>()");
-        }
-    }
-
-    template <typename T,typename std::enable_if<
-                         (detail::direct_type<recursive_wrapper<T>, Types...>::index != detail::invalid_value)
-                         >::type* = nullptr>
-    VARIANT_INLINE T const& get() const
-    {
-        if (type_index == detail::direct_type<recursive_wrapper<T>, Types...>::index)
-        {
-            return (*reinterpret_cast<recursive_wrapper<T> const*>(&data)).get();
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            throw std::runtime_error("in get<T>()");
-        }
-    }
-
-    // get<T>() - T stored as std::reference_wrapper<T>
-    template <typename T, typename std::enable_if<
-                          (detail::direct_type<std::reference_wrapper<T>, Types...>::index != detail::invalid_value)
-                          >::type* = nullptr>
-    VARIANT_INLINE T& get()
-    {
-        if (type_index == detail::direct_type<std::reference_wrapper<T>, Types...>::index)
-        {
-            return (*reinterpret_cast<std::reference_wrapper<T>*>(&data)).get();
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            throw std::runtime_error("in get<T>()");
-        }
-    }
-
-    template <typename T,typename std::enable_if<
-                         (detail::direct_type<std::reference_wrapper<T const>, Types...>::index != detail::invalid_value)
-                         >::type* = nullptr>
-    VARIANT_INLINE T const& get() const
-    {
-        if (type_index == detail::direct_type<std::reference_wrapper<T const>, Types...>::index)
-        {
-            return (*reinterpret_cast<std::reference_wrapper<T const> const*>(&data)).get();
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            throw std::runtime_error("in get<T>()");
-        }
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE std::size_t get_type_index() const
-    {
-        return type_index;
-    }
-
-    VARIANT_INLINE int which() const noexcept
-    {
-        return static_cast<int>(sizeof...(Types) - type_index - 1);
-    }
-    // visitor
-    // unary
-    template <typename F, typename V>
-    auto VARIANT_INLINE
-    static visit(V const& v, F f)
-        -> decltype(detail::dispatcher<F, V,
-                    typename detail::result_of_unary_visit<F,
-                    typename detail::select_type<0, Types...>::type>::type, Types...>::apply_const(v, f))
-    {
-        using R = typename detail::result_of_unary_visit<F, typename detail::select_type<0, Types...>::type>::type;
-        return detail::dispatcher<F, V, R, Types...>::apply_const(v, f);
-    }
-    // non-const
-    template <typename F, typename V>
-    auto VARIANT_INLINE
-    static visit(V & v, F f)
-        -> decltype(detail::dispatcher<F, V,
-                    typename detail::result_of_unary_visit<F,
-                    typename detail::select_type<0, Types...>::type>::type, Types...>::apply(v, f))
-    {
-        using R = typename detail::result_of_unary_visit<F, typename detail::select_type<0, Types...>::type>::type;
-        return detail::dispatcher<F, V, R, Types...>::apply(v, f);
-    }
-
-    // binary
-    // const
-    template <typename F, typename V>
-    auto VARIANT_INLINE
-    static binary_visit(V const& v0, V const& v1, F f)
-        -> decltype(detail::binary_dispatcher<F, V,
-                    typename detail::result_of_binary_visit<F,
-                    typename detail::select_type<0, Types...>::type>::type, Types...>::apply_const(v0, v1, f))
-    {
-        using R = typename detail::result_of_binary_visit<F,typename detail::select_type<0, Types...>::type>::type;
-        return detail::binary_dispatcher<F, V, R, Types...>::apply_const(v0, v1, f);
-    }
-    // non-const
-    template <typename F, typename V>
-    auto VARIANT_INLINE
-    static binary_visit(V& v0, V& v1, F f)
-        -> decltype(detail::binary_dispatcher<F, V,
-                    typename detail::result_of_binary_visit<F,
-                    typename detail::select_type<0, Types...>::type>::type, Types...>::apply(v0, v1, f))
-    {
-        using R = typename detail::result_of_binary_visit<F,typename detail::select_type<0, Types...>::type>::type;
-        return detail::binary_dispatcher<F, V, R, Types...>::apply(v0, v1, f);
-    }
-
-    ~variant() noexcept
-    {
-        helper_type::destroy(type_index, &data);
-    }
-
-    // comparison operators
-    // equality
-    VARIANT_INLINE bool operator==(variant const& rhs) const
-    {
-        if (this->get_type_index() != rhs.get_type_index())
-            return false;
-        detail::comparer<variant, detail::equal_comp> visitor(*this);
-        return visit(rhs, visitor);
-    }
-    // less than
-    VARIANT_INLINE bool operator<(variant const& rhs) const
-    {
-        if (this->get_type_index() != rhs.get_type_index())
-        {
-            return this->get_type_index() < rhs.get_type_index();
-            // ^^ borrowed from boost::variant
-        }
-        detail::comparer<variant, detail::less_comp> visitor(*this);
-        return visit(rhs, visitor);
-    }
+    // inherit ctor's
+    using mapbox::util::variant<Types...>::variant;
 };
 
 // unary visitor interface
-
 // const
 template <typename V, typename F>
 auto VARIANT_INLINE static apply_visitor(F f, V const& v) -> decltype(V::visit(v, f))
@@ -900,13 +73,13 @@ auto VARIANT_INLINE static apply_visitor(F f, V & v0, V & v1) -> decltype(V::bin
 }
 
 // getter interface
-template<typename ResultType, typename T>
+template <typename ResultType, typename T>
 ResultType & get(T & var)
 {
     return var.template get<ResultType>();
 }
 
-template<typename ResultType, typename T>
+template <typename ResultType, typename T>
 ResultType const& get(T const& var)
 {
     return var.template get<ResultType>();
diff --git a/include/mapnik/util/variant_io.hpp b/include/mapnik/util/variant_io.hpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 8839a7e22..000000000
--- a/include/mapnik/util/variant_io.hpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-/*****************************************************************************
- *
- * This file is part of Mapnik (c++ mapping toolkit)
- *
- * Copyright (C) 2015 Artem Pavlenko
- *
- * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
- * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
- * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
- * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
- *
- * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
- * Lesser General Public License for more details.
- *
- * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
- * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
- * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
- *
- *****************************************************************************/
-
-#ifndef MAPNIK_UTIL_VARIANT_IO_HPP
-#define MAPNIK_UTIL_VARIANT_IO_HPP
-
-
-namespace mapnik { namespace util {
-
-namespace detail {
-
-// operator<< helper
-template <typename Out>
-class printer
-{
-public:
-    explicit printer(Out & out)
-        : out_(out) {}
-    printer& operator=(printer const&) = delete;
-
-// visitor
-    template <typename T>
-    void operator()(T const& operand) const
-    {
-        out_ << operand;
-    }
-
-/// specialized visitor for boolean
-    void operator()(bool const & val) const
-    {
-        if (val) {
-            out_ << "true";
-        } else {
-            out_ << "false";
-        }
-    }
-private:
-    Out & out_;
-};
-
-} // namespace detail
-
-// operator<<
-template <typename charT, typename traits, typename... Types>
-VARIANT_INLINE std::basic_ostream<charT, traits>&
-operator<< (std::basic_ostream<charT, traits>& out, variant<Types...> const& rhs)
-{
-    detail::printer<std::basic_ostream<charT, traits>> visitor(out);
-    apply_visitor(visitor, rhs);
-    return out;
-}
-
-}}
-
-#endif // MAPNIK_UTIL_VARIANT_IO_HPP
diff --git a/include/mapnik/wkb.hpp b/include/mapnik/wkb.hpp
index ac90df7b3..53f1e850d 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/wkb.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/wkb.hpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #define MAPNIK_WKB_HPP
 
 // mapnik
+#include <mapnik/config.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/geometry.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/noncopyable.hpp>
 
diff --git a/src/save_map.cpp b/src/save_map.cpp
index b8db98a78..5e82d7be9 100644
--- a/src/save_map.cpp
+++ b/src/save_map.cpp
@@ -46,8 +46,7 @@
 #include <mapnik/group/group_layout.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/group/group_symbolizer_properties.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/util/variant.hpp>
-#include <mapnik/util/variant_io.hpp>
-
+#include <mapbox/variant/variant_io.hpp>
 #pragma GCC diagnostic push
 #include <mapnik/warning_ignore.hpp>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>