diff --git a/conanfile.py b/conanfile.py
index 2db0e85..ee3877b 100644
--- a/conanfile.py
+++ b/conanfile.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ class SDL3CppConan(ConanFile):
         self.requires("vulkan-validationlayers/1.3.243.0")
         self.requires("ogg/1.3.5")
         self.requires("theora/1.1.1")
-        self.requires("rapidjson/1.1.0")
         self.requires("cli11/2.6.0")
         self.requires("bullet3/3.25")
         self.requires("box2d/3.1.1")
diff --git a/scripts/cube_logic.lua b/scripts/cube_logic.lua
index b1b7293..26c4450 100644
--- a/scripts/cube_logic.lua
+++ b/scripts/cube_logic.lua
@@ -1,23 +1,3 @@
-local cube_vertices = {
-    { position = {-1.0, -1.0, -1.0}, color = {1.0, 0.0, 0.0} },
-    { position = {1.0, -1.0, -1.0}, color = {0.0, 1.0, 0.0} },
-    { position = {1.0, 1.0, -1.0}, color = {0.0, 0.0, 1.0} },
-    { position = {-1.0, 1.0, -1.0}, color = {1.0, 1.0, 0.0} },
-    { position = {-1.0, -1.0, 1.0}, color = {1.0, 0.0, 1.0} },
-    { position = {1.0, -1.0, 1.0}, color = {0.0, 1.0, 1.0} },
-    { position = {1.0, 1.0, 1.0}, color = {1.0, 1.0, 1.0} },
-    { position = {-1.0, 1.0, 1.0}, color = {0.2, 0.2, 0.2} },
-}
-
-local cube_indices = {
-    1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 1, -- back
-    5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 5, -- front
-    1, 5, 8, 8, 4, 1, -- left
-    2, 6, 7, 7, 3, 2, -- right
-    4, 3, 7, 7, 8, 4, -- top
-    1, 2, 6, 6, 5, 1, -- bottom
-}
-
 local pyramid_vertices = {
     { position = {0.0, 1.0, 0.0}, color = {1.0, 0.5, 0.0} },
     { position = {-1.0, -1.0, -1.0}, color = {0.0, 1.0, 1.0} },
@@ -35,6 +15,116 @@ local pyramid_indices = {
     4, 5, 2,
 }
 
+local fallback_cube_vertices = {
+    { position = {-1.0, -1.0, -1.0}, color = {1.0, 0.0, 0.0} },
+    { position = {1.0, -1.0, -1.0}, color = {0.0, 1.0, 0.0} },
+    { position = {1.0, 1.0, -1.0}, color = {0.0, 0.0, 1.0} },
+    { position = {-1.0, 1.0, -1.0}, color = {1.0, 1.0, 0.0} },
+    { position = {-1.0, -1.0, 1.0}, color = {1.0, 0.0, 1.0} },
+    { position = {1.0, -1.0, 1.0}, color = {0.0, 1.0, 1.0} },
+    { position = {1.0, 1.0, 1.0}, color = {1.0, 1.0, 1.0} },
+    { position = {-1.0, 1.0, 1.0}, color = {0.2, 0.2, 0.2} },
+}
+
+local fallback_cube_indices = {
+    1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 1, -- back
+    5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 5, -- front
+    1, 5, 8, 8, 4, 1, -- left
+    2, 6, 7, 7, 3, 2, -- right
+    4, 3, 7, 7, 8, 4, -- top
+    1, 2, 6, 6, 5, 1, -- bottom
+}
+
+local function resolve_script_directory()
+    local info = debug.getinfo(1, "S")
+    local source = info and info.source
+    if not source then
+        return "."
+    end
+    if source:sub(1, 1) == "@" then
+        local path = source:sub(2)
+        return path:match("^(.*[\\/])") or "."
+    end
+    return "."
+end
+
+local function combine_paths(first, ...)
+    local parts = {first, ...}
+    local combined = parts[1] or ""
+    for i = 2, #parts do
+        local piece = parts[i]
+        if piece and piece ~= "" then
+            local last = combined:sub(-1)
+            if last ~= "/" and last ~= "\\" then
+                combined = combined .. "/"
+            end
+            combined = combined .. piece
+        end
+    end
+    return combined
+end
+
+local function load_stl_mesh(path)
+    local file, err = io.open(path, "r")
+    if not file then
+        return nil, nil, err
+    end
+    local vertices = {}
+    local indices = {}
+    local color = {0.6, 0.8, 1.0}
+    local vertex_count = 0
+    for line in file:lines() do
+        if line:lower():match("^%s*vertex") then
+            local coords = {}
+            for token in line:gmatch("%S+") do
+                if token:lower() ~= "vertex" then
+                    local value = tonumber(token)
+                    if value then
+                        coords[#coords + 1] = value
+                    end
+                end
+            end
+            if #coords == 3 then
+                vertex_count = vertex_count + 1
+                vertices[vertex_count] = {
+                    position = {coords[1], coords[2], coords[3]},
+                    color = {color[1], color[2], color[3]},
+                }
+                indices[#indices + 1] = vertex_count
+            end
+        end
+    end
+    file:close()
+    if vertex_count == 0 then
+        return nil, nil, "STL did not include any vertex lines"
+    end
+    return vertices, indices, nil
+end
+
+local script_directory = resolve_script_directory()
+local stl_cube_path = combine_paths(script_directory, "models", "cube.stl")
+local stl_vertices, stl_indices, stl_error = load_stl_mesh(stl_cube_path)
+
+local cube_vertices = fallback_cube_vertices
+local cube_indices = fallback_cube_indices
+local stl_debug_info = {
+    path = stl_cube_path,
+    loaded = false,
+    vertex_count = 0,
+    index_count = 0,
+    error = stl_error,
+}
+
+if stl_vertices then
+    cube_vertices = stl_vertices
+    cube_indices = stl_indices
+    stl_debug_info.loaded = true
+    stl_debug_info.vertex_count = #stl_vertices
+    stl_debug_info.index_count = #stl_indices
+else
+    stl_debug_info.error = stl_error or "STL file not available"
+end
+
 local math3d = require("math3d")
 local string_format = string.format
 local table_concat = table.concat
@@ -88,6 +178,14 @@ local function log_debug(fmt, ...)
     print(string_format(fmt, ...))
 end
 
+if stl_debug_info.loaded then
+    log_debug("Loaded cube mesh from %s (%d vertices, %d indices)",
+        stl_debug_info.path, stl_debug_info.vertex_count, stl_debug_info.index_count)
+else
+    log_debug("Failed to load cube STL (%s); using fallback cube",
+        stl_debug_info.error or "unknown")
+end
+
 local rotation_speeds = {x = 0.5, y = 0.7}
 
 local shader_variants = {
diff --git a/scripts/dev_commands.py b/scripts/dev_commands.py
index 8873e01..4ac1c13 100644
--- a/scripts/dev_commands.py
+++ b/scripts/dev_commands.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ SPINNING_BINARY = os.path.join(
 )
 
 ALIASES = {
-    "conan_detect": "conan profile detect",
+    "conan_detect": "conan profile detect -f",
     "conan_install": (
         "conan install . -of build -b missing "
         "-s compiler=msvc -s compiler.version=194 -s compiler.cppstd=17 "