express.js - using stylus as middleware or build it?

Question

I want to use Stylus (http://learnboost.github.io/stylus/) preprocessor in my express.js application.

What is the best practice for using it (or simply share your experience) -

• build stylus files with grunt.js or smth similar tool before starting application?

• or using it as middleware app.use(stylus.middleware...) - the main thing here is - how that deals with apps performance (because as I see this middleware runs on every request while writing css files)?

Thanks!

Answer 1

How about using middleware the first time and write the result to file, which as the cache, would serve the next request. Just like "coffee-middleware" and "less-middleware".