# File lib/rake/extensioncompiler.rb, line 35
    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 = "*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