sS gazelle_makeVariable(S name) {
  // TODO: sync
  
  S mod = dm_findModuleWithParamsIC(gazelle_varModuleID(),
    description := name);
  if (mod != null) ret mod;
  mod = dm_showNewModule(gazelle_varModuleID());
  dm_call(mod, 'setDescription, name);
  ret mod;
}