Could environment variables be interfering with finding the Rust compiler or build tools?

Yes, environment variables like `PATH` are crucial. If `PATH` is misconfigured, your system might not find `rustc` or `cargo`. Ensure that the `~/.cargo/bin` directory (or its equivalent on your OS) is correctly added to your `PATH`. Also, check for any custom environment variables that might be overriding standard build tool discovery. Restarting your terminal or IDE after making `PATH` changes is often necessary.