diff --git a/docs/skill/references/discipline/core-rules.md b/docs/skill/references/discipline/core-rules.md
index d30545d0..c005d5ab 100644
--- a/docs/skill/references/discipline/core-rules.md
+++ b/docs/skill/references/discipline/core-rules.md
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ the durable export call `capture(result, path)`, whose two required arguments ar
 notebook; one assembly notebook per product, composing children with `scad.use(...)`; parameters live in the notebook that
 consumes them. Cell boundaries, `_private` names and `var()` follow `discipline/notebook-cell-design.md`; block structure
 and the mandatory header `# ---- feature: <slug> (<role>) ----` follow `discipline/feature-tree-convention.md`. Read both
-before writing any cell.
+before writing any cell. The one exception is a task that itself asks for a single script
+(`python model.py --output part.step`, an unattended batch): that is a plain script, see "One-shot script" in
+`domains/export-and-translation.md`; the notebook rules do not apply to it.
 
 **R4. Sketch first.** 2D profiles and planar paths go through the sketch API; primitives only when the shape is entirely
 the basic form.
diff --git a/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_mjcf.md b/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_mjcf.md
index a41c05fd..2058ec01 100644
--- a/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_mjcf.md
+++ b/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_mjcf.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ## API Definition
 
 ```python
-def export_product_package_to_mjcf(data: ProductPackageInput, output_path: str | Path, *, mesh_directory: str | Path | None = None, mapping_path: str | Path | None = None, linear_deflection: float = 0.15, angular_deflection_degrees: float = _DEFAULT_MJCF_ANGULAR_DEFLECTION_DEGREES, default_density_kg_m3: float | None = None) -> ProductMJCFExportReport
+def export_product_package_to_mjcf(data: ProductInput, output_path: str | Path, *, mesh_directory: str | Path | None = None, mapping_path: str | Path | None = None, linear_deflection: float = 0.15, angular_deflection_degrees: float = _DEFAULT_MJCF_ANGULAR_DEFLECTION_DEGREES, default_density_kg_m3: float | None = None) -> ProductMJCFExportReport
 ```
 
 *Source: exporter/mjcf.py*
diff --git a/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_obj.md b/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_obj.md
index 4e84a492..1c82c85b 100644
--- a/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_obj.md
+++ b/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_obj.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ## API Definition
 
 ```python
-def export_product_package_to_obj(data: ProductPackageInput, output_path: str | Path, *, linear_deflection: float = 0.1, angular_deflection_degrees: float = 20.0, relative: bool = False) -> ProductOBJExportReport
+def export_product_package_to_obj(data: ProductInput, output_path: str | Path, *, linear_deflection: float = 0.1, angular_deflection_degrees: float = 20.0, relative: bool = False) -> ProductOBJExportReport
 ```
 
 *Source: exporter/obj.py*
diff --git a/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_step.md b/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_step.md
index 6882ff1a..235d85f1 100644
--- a/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_step.md
+++ b/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_step.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ## API Definition
 
 ```python
-def export_product_package_to_step(data: ProductPackageInput, output_path: str | Path) -> ProductSTEPExportReport
+def export_product_package_to_step(data: ProductInput, output_path: str | Path) -> ProductSTEPExportReport
 ```
 
 *Source: exporter/step.py*
@@ -14,4 +14,5 @@ def export_product_package_to_step(data: ProductPackageInput, output_path: str |
 
 ## Description
 
-Export a validated `.scadpkg` closure as XCAF-backed AP242 STEP.
+Export a product as XCAF-backed AP242 STEP: a validated `.scadpkg` closure (package, bytes or path), or the result of
+a build (``@scad.part`` / ``@scad.assemble``) or its definition, which is packaged in memory without a scene.
diff --git a/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_stl.md b/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_stl.md
index 63c9f908..31d8e512 100644
--- a/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_stl.md
+++ b/docs/skill/references/docs/api/export_product_package_to_stl.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ## API Definition
 
 ```python
-def export_product_package_to_stl(data: ProductPackageInput, output_path: str | Path, *, linear_deflection: float = 0.1, angular_deflection_degrees: float = 20.0, relative: bool = False) -> ProductSTLExportReport
+def export_product_package_to_stl(data: ProductInput, output_path: str | Path, *, linear_deflection: float = 0.1, angular_deflection_degrees: float = 20.0, relative: bool = False) -> ProductSTLExportReport
 ```
 
 *Source: exporter/stl.py*
diff --git a/docs/skill/references/domains/export-and-translation.md b/docs/skill/references/domains/export-and-translation.md
index 1e72bbea..6b9d3242 100644
--- a/docs/skill/references/domains/export-and-translation.md
+++ b/docs/skill/references/domains/export-and-translation.md
@@ -60,8 +60,10 @@ Read the exact page under `references/docs/api/` for every API used:
 
 ## Export rules
 
-- Translate only from a validated `.scadpkg` package: `capture` the product
-  first, then export from the package path.
+- Translate only from a validated product package: `capture` the product
+  first, then export from the package path. In a one-shot script (below) the
+  exporters also take the build result itself and package it in memory, with
+  the same validation and without the scene projection nobody reads.
 - STL and OBJ share one direct OpenCASCADE tessellation of the evaluated BREP;
   both contain the same oriented triangles. Control curved-surface accuracy
   with `linear_deflection` (chordal deviation in product units) and
@@ -75,6 +77,38 @@ Read the exact page under `references/docs/api/` for every API used:
 - Use `validate_step_roundtrip_rdescriptor` when a STEP export must survive
   re-import (roundtrip-sensitive consumers).
 
+## One-shot script (no notebook, no `.scadpkg` on disk)
+
+For a batch or unattended task whose deliverable is "one script, run as
+`python model.py --output part.step`" (read-only source directory, no editor),
+a plain script is the supported entry. A notebook is still the form for
+anything a person will open, edit or reuse (core rule R3). The runtime keeps
+no state next to the source when it runs without the cache.
+
+```python
+import argparse
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import simplecadapi as scad
+
+
+@scad.part(id="plate", project_root=Path(__file__).parent)
+def build_plate() -> scad.Part:
+    body = scad.make_box_rsolid(width=120.0, height=120.0, depth=10.0)
+    return scad.make_part_rpart("plate", body)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument("--output", required=True)
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    report = scad.exporter.export_product_package_to_step(build_plate(), args.output)
+    print(report.output_path, report.definition_ids)
+```
+
+A notebook run unattended in a read-only directory uses
+`run_notebook(path, cache=False)`.
+
 ## Validation gates
 
 - Read the returned export report and print its actual fields per format
diff --git a/src/simplecadapi/exporter/_surface_mesh.py b/src/simplecadapi/exporter/_surface_mesh.py
index 9d27c4c3..501cdc6d 100644
--- a/src/simplecadapi/exporter/_surface_mesh.py
+++ b/src/simplecadapi/exporter/_surface_mesh.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from ..artifacts.assembly_io import materialize_definition
 from simplecadapi._cpp import Assembly, make_compound_from_assembly_rcompound, Part
 from ..translator.package_units import (
-    ProductPackageInput,
+    ProductInput,
     read_product_package_translation_units,
 )
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ def tessellate_solid(
 
 
 def tessellate_product_surface(
-    data: ProductPackageInput,
+    data: ProductInput,
     *,
     linear_deflection: float,
     angular_deflection_degrees: float,
diff --git a/src/simplecadapi/exporter/mjcf.py b/src/simplecadapi/exporter/mjcf.py
index 455df56f..e8aa7f21 100644
--- a/src/simplecadapi/exporter/mjcf.py
+++ b/src/simplecadapi/exporter/mjcf.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 from simplecadapi._cpp import Assembly, Part
 from ..product.placement import Placement, relative_placement
 from ..translator.package_units import (
-    ProductPackageInput,
+    ProductInput,
     read_product_package_translation_units,
 )
 from ._surface_mesh import tessellate_solid
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ def _part_materials(units: tuple[Any, ...]) -> dict[str, tuple[Part, float, bool
 
 
 def export_product_package_to_mjcf(
-    data: ProductPackageInput,
+    data: ProductInput,
     output_path: str | Path,
     *,
     mesh_directory: str | Path | None = None,
diff --git a/src/simplecadapi/exporter/obj.py b/src/simplecadapi/exporter/obj.py
index 07f77fcc..b917c7a4 100644
--- a/src/simplecadapi/exporter/obj.py
+++ b/src/simplecadapi/exporter/obj.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from ..translator.package_units import ProductPackageInput
+from ..translator.package_units import ProductInput
 from ._surface_mesh import tessellate_product_surface
 
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class ProductOBJExportReport:
 
 
 def export_product_package_to_obj(
-    data: ProductPackageInput,
+    data: ProductInput,
     output_path: str | Path,
     *,
     linear_deflection: float = 0.1,
diff --git a/src/simplecadapi/exporter/step.py b/src/simplecadapi/exporter/step.py
index d8a823a7..b421ad56 100644
--- a/src/simplecadapi/exporter/step.py
+++ b/src/simplecadapi/exporter/step.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 from ..artifacts import materialize_definition
 from simplecadapi._cpp import Assembly, Part
 from ..translator.package_units import (
-    ProductPackageInput,
+    ProductInput,
     read_product_package_translation_units,
 )
 
@@ -152,10 +152,11 @@ def visit(value: Part | Assembly) -> str:
 
 
 def export_product_package_to_step(
-    data: ProductPackageInput,
+    data: ProductInput,
     output_path: str | Path,
 ) -> ProductSTEPExportReport:
-    """Export a validated `.scadpkg` closure as XCAF-backed AP242 STEP."""
+    """Export a product as XCAF-backed AP242 STEP: a validated `.scadpkg` closure (package, bytes or path), or the result of
+    a build (``@scad.part`` / ``@scad.assemble``) or its definition, which is packaged in memory without a scene."""
 
     import simplecadapi._cpp as native
 
diff --git a/src/simplecadapi/exporter/stl.py b/src/simplecadapi/exporter/stl.py
index ae8fab83..f1bcca9b 100644
--- a/src/simplecadapi/exporter/stl.py
+++ b/src/simplecadapi/exporter/stl.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 
-from ..translator.package_units import ProductPackageInput
+from ..translator.package_units import ProductInput
 from ._surface_mesh import TessellatedSurfaceMesh, tessellate_product_surface
 
 
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def _write_binary_stl(path: Path, mesh: TessellatedSurfaceMesh) -> None:
 
 
 def export_product_package_to_stl(
-    data: ProductPackageInput,
+    data: ProductInput,
     output_path: str | Path,
     *,
     linear_deflection: float = 0.1,
diff --git a/src/simplecadapi/runtime/deps.py b/src/simplecadapi/runtime/deps.py
index fbf691e2..1a5a1c5d 100644
--- a/src/simplecadapi/runtime/deps.py
+++ b/src/simplecadapi/runtime/deps.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def state_dir(config: NotebookConfig) -> Path:
 
 
 @contextmanager
-def exclusive(config: NotebookConfig) -> Iterator[None]:
+def exclusive(config: NotebookConfig, *, enabled: bool = True) -> Iterator[None]:
     """Hold the notebook's state directory against other processes.
 
     Worker processes may run the same notebook at once (two notebooks that
@@ -107,9 +107,13 @@ def exclusive(config: NotebookConfig) -> Iterator[None]:
     lock is between processes only: a run of a notebook this process is
     already running (a ``use`` cycle, an editor next to a headless run) goes
     on without it, as it always did.  Without ``fcntl`` (Windows) it is a
-    no-op.
+    no-op.  With ``enabled=False`` (a run that keeps no state: nothing to
+    prune, nothing to protect) it is a no-op too, and creates nothing.
     """
 
+    if not enabled:
+        yield
+        return
     directory = state_dir(config)
     key = str(directory)
     with _held_lock:
diff --git a/src/simplecadapi/runtime/runner.py b/src/simplecadapi/runtime/runner.py
index 5d17e614..b1007e13 100644
--- a/src/simplecadapi/runtime/runner.py
+++ b/src/simplecadapi/runtime/runner.py
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def run() -> NotebookRun:
         # Errors still come through.  "marimo" is the logger every marimo
         # module shares (lazy.py's record shows its file name, "lazy", which
         # is not the logger's name).
-        with suppress_warnings_logs("marimo"), exclusive(config):
+        with suppress_warnings_logs("marimo"), exclusive(config, enabled=cache):
             return _run(config, values, cache=cache, through=through, product=product)
 
     # marimo keeps its runtime context per thread, and a notebook run needs
@@ -322,7 +322,10 @@ def _run(
     # Cells restored from the cache ran no ``use`` this time; the files they
     # depend on are among those the previous run recorded.
     recorded = frozenset(used) | (previous if restored else frozenset())
-    write_dependencies(config, recorded)
+    if cache:
+        # The record belongs to the cache: its entries are keyed on the files it lists, so a run that keeps no entries must
+        # not move it (and a run without the cache must work where the source directory is read-only, issue #89).
+        write_dependencies(config, recorded)
     dependencies = module_files | recorded
     if cache and cell_cache is not None:
         # A cell that runs a child notebook depends on the record just written:
diff --git a/src/simplecadapi/translator/package_units.py b/src/simplecadapi/translator/package_units.py
index 445666f2..8cd131cc 100644
--- a/src/simplecadapi/translator/package_units.py
+++ b/src/simplecadapi/translator/package_units.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from ..artifacts.part_definition import PartDefinition
 from ..product.packages import (
     ProductPackage,
+    build_product_package,
     read_product_package,
     validate_product_package,
 )
@@ -18,6 +19,8 @@
 
 Definition = PartDefinition | AssemblyDefinition
 ProductPackageInput = ProductPackage | bytes | bytearray | memoryview | str | Path
+# What an exporter takes besides a package: the result of a build (``@scad.part`` / ``@scad.assemble``) or its definition.
+ProductInput = ProductPackageInput | Definition | Any
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
@@ -70,15 +73,22 @@ def model_payload(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
 
 
 def read_product_package_translation_units(
-    data: ProductPackageInput,
+    data: ProductInput,
 ) -> tuple[ProductPackage, tuple[ProductPackageTranslationUnit, ...]]:
-    """Return a validated package and dependency-first definition units."""
+    """Return a validated package and dependency-first definition units.
+
+    *data* is a package, the bytes or path of one, or (issue #89) the result of a build or a definition: a script that
+    only wants a STEP file need not write a ``.scadpkg`` first.  That package is built in memory without the scene
+    projection (tessellated meshes), which no exporter reads and which took most of the time of a default capture.
+    """
 
     if isinstance(data, ProductPackage):
         validate_product_package(data)
         package = data
-    else:
+    elif isinstance(data, (bytes, bytearray, memoryview, str, Path)):
         package = read_product_package(data)
+    else:
+        package = build_product_package(data, include_scene=False)
     ordered: list[Definition] = []
     visited: set[tuple[str, str]] = set()
 
@@ -122,5 +132,6 @@ def visit(definition: Definition) -> None:
 __all__ = [
     "ProductPackageInput",
     "ProductPackageTranslationUnit",
+    "ProductInput",
     "read_product_package_translation_units",
 ]
diff --git a/test/test_notebook_runtime.py b/test/test_notebook_runtime.py
index f87d21d3..755616dd 100644
--- a/test/test_notebook_runtime.py
+++ b/test/test_notebook_runtime.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 import importlib.metadata
 import io
 import json
+import os
 import pickle
 import re
 import sys
@@ -326,6 +327,33 @@ def test_without_the_cache_nothing_is_stored(self) -> None:
         self.assertFalse((state_dir(run.config) / "cache").exists())
         self.assertEqual(self.statuses(run_notebook(self.bracket)), ["ran"] * 4)
 
+    def test_without_the_cache_the_source_directory_is_left_alone(self) -> None:
+        """Issue #89: a run that keeps no state must not create the state directory (``__marimo__``) next to the source,
+        so a notebook can run where the source directory is read-only (a container's ``-v src:/src:ro``)."""
+
+        run_notebook(self.bracket, cache=False)
+        self.assertFalse((self.root / "__marimo__").exists())
+        self.assertFalse(state_dir(read_notebook_config(self.bracket)).exists())
+
+    @unittest.skipUnless(
+        os.name == "posix" and hasattr(os, "geteuid") and os.geteuid() != 0, "needs a non-root POSIX user to make a directory read-only"
+    )
+    def test_without_the_cache_a_read_only_source_directory_runs(self) -> None:
+        directories = [self.root, self.root / "lib"]
+        modes = [directory.stat().st_mode for directory in directories]
+        for directory in directories:
+            directory.chmod(0o555)
+        try:
+            run = run_notebook(self.bracket, cache=False)
+        finally:
+            for directory, mode in zip(directories, modes):
+                directory.chmod(mode)
+        self.assertEqual(run.definition.definition_id, "bracket")
+
+    def test_with_the_cache_the_dependency_record_is_still_written(self) -> None:
+        run = run_notebook(self.bracket)
+        self.assertTrue((state_dir(run.config) / "deps.json").is_file())
+
     def test_overrides_skip_the_defining_cell(self) -> None:
         plain = run_notebook(self.bracket)
         wide = run_notebook(self.bracket, overrides={"width": 30.0})
diff --git a/test/test_product_exporter.py b/test/test_product_exporter.py
index 11cd34ae..6999a9db 100644
--- a/test/test_product_exporter.py
+++ b/test/test_product_exporter.py
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def build_root() -> scad.Assembly:
     return scad.build_product_package(build_root())
 
 
-def _build_cylinder_package():
+def _build_cylinder_result():
     @scad.part(
         id="cylinder",
         project_root=Path(__file__).parent,
@@ -156,7 +156,11 @@ def build_cylinder() -> scad.Part:
         body = scad.make_cylinder_rsolid(radius=4.0, height=8.0)
         return scad.make_part_rpart("cylinder", body)
 
-    return scad.build_product_package(build_cylinder())
+    return build_cylinder()
+
+
+def _build_cylinder_package():
+    return scad.build_product_package(_build_cylinder_result())
 
 
 class TestProductExporter(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -182,6 +186,39 @@ def test_exporters_are_available_only_from_exporter_namespace(self):
         self.assertFalse(hasattr(scad, "export_obj"))
         self.assertFalse(hasattr(scad.translator, "ap242_translator"))
 
+    def test_a_build_result_exports_in_one_step_without_a_scene(self):
+        """Issue #89: a script that only wants a file need not capture a ``.scadpkg`` first, nor pay for the scene
+        (the tessellated projection no exporter reads)."""
+
+        from unittest import mock
+
+        from simplecadapi.product import packages
+
+        result = _build_cylinder_result()
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
+            root = Path(tmp_dir)
+            with mock.patch.object(packages, "_scene_projection", side_effect=AssertionError("the scene was built")):
+                step = scad.exporter.export_product_package_to_step(result, root / "one.step")
+                stl = scad.exporter.export_product_package_to_stl(result, root / "one.stl")
+            self.assertEqual(step.definition_ids, ("cylinder",))
+            self.assertGreater((root / "one.step").stat().st_size, 0)
+            self.assertGreater((root / "one.stl").stat().st_size, 0)
+            self.assertEqual(stl.output_path, (root / "one.stl").resolve())
+
+    def test_a_definition_exports_like_its_build_result(self):
+        result = _build_cylinder_result()
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
+            root = Path(tmp_dir)
+            from_result = scad.exporter.export_product_package_to_step(result, root / "a.step")
+            from_definition = scad.exporter.export_product_package_to_step(result.definition, root / "b.step")
+        self.assertEqual(from_result.definition_ids, from_definition.definition_ids)
+        self.assertEqual(from_result.metadata_item_count, from_definition.metadata_item_count)
+
+    def test_a_value_that_is_no_product_is_rejected(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
+            with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
+                scad.exporter.export_product_package_to_step(object(), Path(tmp_dir) / "x.step")
+
     def test_nested_package_preserves_ap242_product_structure_and_placements(self):
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp_dir:
             root = Path(tmp_dir)