Variables that suck less

This module provides more predictable, less site-eating behavior around
Drupal's variable system.

The caching around the {variable} table in core is braindead. For many sites, a
large variable table plus relatively regular variable_set() / variable_del()
(drupal_cron_run(), ooops) calls can cause a site outage.

This module reworks the caching layer so it can cope with a large number of
rows in the variable table, and makes the cache clearing that happens around
writes to the table, way, way, way less likely to take your site down.

This module requires a core patch, and can break your site and eat your lunch.