title: mingw installation on Linux
body: <p>I'm currently trying to compile Windows applications on a Linux OS. I need mingw to do this. I read that Debian comes with mingw package already installed. When I run the shell command:</p>
  
  <pre><code>apt-cache search mingw
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I get an output:</p>
  
  <pre><code>binutils-mingw-w64 - Cross-binutils for Win32 and Win64 using MinGW-w64
  binutils-mingw-w64-i686 - Cross-binutils for Win32 (x86) using MinGW-w64
  binutils-mingw-w64-x86-64 - Cross-binutils for Win64 (x64) using MinGW-w64
  g++-mingw-w64 - GNU C++ compiler for MinGW-w64
  g++-mingw-w64-i686 - GNU C++ compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win32
  g++-mingw-w64-x86-64 - GNU C++ compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win64
  gcc-mingw-w64 - GNU C compiler for MinGW-w64
  gcc-mingw-w64-base - GNU Compiler Collection for MinGW-w64 (base package)
  gcc-mingw-w64-i686 - GNU C compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win32
  gcc-mingw-w64-x86-64 - GNU C compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win64
  gcc-mingw32 - GNU Compiler Collection for MinGW32 (transition package)
  gfortran-mingw-w64 - GNU Fortran compiler for MinGW-w64
  gfortran-mingw-w64-i686 - GNU Fortran compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win32
  gfortran-mingw-w64-x86-64 - GNU Fortran compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win64
  gnat-mingw-w64 - GNU Ada compiler for MinGW-w64
  gnat-mingw-w64-i686 - GNU Ada compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win32
  gnat-mingw-w64-x86-64 - GNU Ada compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win64
  gobjc++-mingw-w64 - GNU Objective-C++ compiler for MinGW-w64
  gobjc++-mingw-w64-i686 - GNU Objective-C++ compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win32
  gobjc++-mingw-w64-x86-64 - GNU Objective-C++ compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win64
  gobjc-mingw-w64 - GNU Objective-C compiler for MinGW-w64
  gobjc-mingw-w64-i686 - GNU Objective-C compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win32
  gobjc-mingw-w64-x86-64 - GNU Objective-C compiler for MinGW-w64 targeting Win64
  gdb-mingw-w64 - Cross-debugger for Win32 and Win64 using MinGW-w64
  gdb-mingw-w64-target - Cross-debugger server for Win32 and Win64 using MinGW-w64
  libconfig++-dbg - parsing and manipulation of structured config files(C++ debug symbols)
  libconfig++-dev - parsing and manipulation of structured config files(C++ development)
  libconfig++9 - parsing and manipulation of structured configuration files(C++ binding)
  libconfig-dbg - parsing and manipulation of structured config files(debug symbols)
  libconfig-dev - parsing and manipulation of structured config files(development)
  libconfig-doc - parsing and manipulation of structured config files(Documentation)
  libconfig9 - parsing and manipulation of structured configuration files
  mingw-ocaml - OCaml cross-compiler based on mingw
  mingw32-ocaml - OCaml cross-compiler based on mingw -- dummy transitional package
  mingw-w64 - Development environment targetting 32- and 64-bit Windows
  mingw-w64-dev - Development files for MinGW-w64 (transitional package)
  mingw-w64-i686-dev - Development files for MinGW-w64 targeting Win32
  mingw-w64-tools - Development tools for 32- and 64-bit Windows
  mingw-w64-x86-64-dev - Development files for MinGW-w64 targeting Win64
  mingw32 - Minimalist GNU win32 (cross) compiler
  mingw32-binutils - Minimalist GNU win32 (cross) binutils
  mingw32-runtime - Minimalist GNU win32 (cross) runtime
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>When I check the /usr/bin/ and /usr/lib for i686-w64-mingw32 I can't find it anywhere.</p>
  
  <p>I've also find a search sing find -name "<em>mingw</em>" without much luck.</p>
  
  <p>Does Debian come with mingw or do I have to install it? If it does come with mingw how do I use it?</p>