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