module Rake::ExtensionCompiler

def self.mingw_gcc_executable

(this assumes you have one installed)
return the first compiler found that includes both mingw and gcc conditions
def self.mingw_gcc_executable
  return @mingw_gcc_executable if @mingw_gcc_executable
  # grab the paths defined in the environment
  paths = ENV['PATH'].split(File::PATH_SEPARATOR)
  # the pattern to look into (captures *nix and windows executables)
  pattern = "{mingw32-,i?86*mingw*,x86*mingw*}gcc{,.*}"
  @mingw_gcc_executable = paths.find do |path|
    # cleanup paths before globbing
    gcc = Dir.glob("#{File.expand_path(path)}/#{pattern}").first
    break gcc if gcc
  end
  @mingw_gcc_executable
end

def self.mingw_host

return the host portion from the installed MinGW
def self.mingw_host
  return @mingw_host if @mingw_host
  # the mingw_gcc_executable is helpful here
  if target = mingw_gcc_executable then
    # we only care for the filename
    target = File.basename(target)
    # now strip the extension (if present)
    target.sub!(File.extname(target), '')
    # get rid of '-gcc' portion too ;-)
    target.sub!('-gcc', '')
  end
  raise "No MinGW tools or unknown setup platform?" unless target
  @mingw_host = target
end