feat: categories have settings for filtering and titles

src/main/engine/BlogGenerationEngine.ts

@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ import {
   PREVIEW_ASSETS,
   PREVIEW_IMAGE_ASSETS,
   buildCanonicalPostPath,
+  type CategoryRenderSettings,
   type HtmlRewriteContext,
 } from './PageRenderer';
+import { getPicoStylesheetHref, sanitizePicoTheme, type PicoThemeName } from '../shared/picoThemes';
 
 const DEFAULT_MAX_POSTS_PER_PAGE = 50;
 const MIN_MAX_POSTS_PER_PAGE = 1;
@@ -27,6 +29,8 @@ export interface BlogGenerationOptions {
   maxPostsPerPage?: number;
   language?: string;
   pageTitle?: string;
+  picoTheme?: PicoThemeName;
+  categorySettings?: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>;
   sections?: BlogGenerationSection[];
 }
 
@@ -81,6 +85,30 @@ function clampMaxPostsPerPage(value: unknown): number {
   return normalized;
 }
 
+function resolveCategorySettings(
+  value: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> | undefined,
+): Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> {
+  const defaults: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> = {
+    article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+    picture: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+    aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+    page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+  };
+
+  if (!value) {
+    return defaults;
+  }
+
+  const merged = { ...defaults };
+  for (const [category, settings] of Object.entries(value)) {
+    merged[category] = {
+      renderInLists: settings?.renderInLists !== false,
+      showTitle: settings?.showTitle !== false,
+    };
+  }
+  return merged;
+}
+
 function buildCanonicalPreviewPath(createdAt: Date, slug: string): string {
   const year = createdAt.getFullYear();
   const month = String(createdAt.getMonth() + 1).padStart(2, '0');
@@ -201,9 +229,22 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     const includeTag = selectedSections.has('tag');
     const includeDate = selectedSections.has('date');
 
+    const categorySettings = resolveCategorySettings(options.categorySettings);
+    const listExcludedCategories = Object.entries(categorySettings)
+      .filter(([, settings]) => settings.renderInLists === false)
+      .map(([category]) => category);
+
     const maxPostsPerPage = clampMaxPostsPerPage(options.maxPostsPerPage);
     const publishedCandidates = await this.postEngine.getPostsFiltered({ status: 'published' });
     const draftCandidates = await this.postEngine.getPostsFiltered({ status: 'draft' });
+    const publishedListCandidates = await this.postEngine.getPostsFiltered({
+      status: 'published',
+      excludeCategories: listExcludedCategories,
+    });
+    const draftListCandidates = await this.postEngine.getPostsFiltered({
+      status: 'draft',
+      excludeCategories: listExcludedCategories,
+    });
 
     const publishedSnapshots = await Promise.all(
       publishedCandidates.map(async (post) => {
@@ -214,6 +255,15 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     const draftPublishedSnapshots = await Promise.all(
       draftCandidates.map(async (post) => this.postEngine.getPublishedVersion(post.id)),
     );
+    const publishedListSnapshots = await Promise.all(
+      publishedListCandidates.map(async (post) => {
+        const snapshot = await this.postEngine.getPublishedVersion(post.id);
+        return snapshot || post;
+      }),
+    );
+    const draftListPublishedSnapshots = await Promise.all(
+      draftListCandidates.map(async (post) => this.postEngine.getPublishedVersion(post.id)),
+    );
 
     const publishedPostById = new Map<string, PostData>();
     for (const post of publishedSnapshots) {
@@ -227,6 +277,17 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
 
     const publishedPosts = Array.from(publishedPostById.values())
       .sort((a, b) => b.createdAt.getTime() - a.createdAt.getTime());
+    const publishedListPostById = new Map<string, PostData>();
+    for (const post of publishedListSnapshots) {
+      publishedListPostById.set(post.id, post);
+    }
+    for (const snapshot of draftListPublishedSnapshots) {
+      if (snapshot) {
+        publishedListPostById.set(snapshot.id, snapshot);
+      }
+    }
+    const publishedListPosts = Array.from(publishedListPostById.values())
+      .sort((a, b) => b.createdAt.getTime() - a.createdAt.getTime());
     const feedPosts = publishedPosts.slice(0, maxPostsPerPage);
 
     onProgress(3, `Found ${publishedPosts.length} published posts`);
@@ -240,14 +301,19 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     const postUrls: Array<{ loc: string; lastmod: string }> = [];
 
     for (const post of publishedPosts) {
-      for (const tag of post.tags || []) allTags.add(tag);
-      for (const category of post.categories || []) allCategories.add(category);
-
       const createdAt = resolvePostCreatedAt(post);
       const canonicalPath = buildCanonicalPreviewPath(createdAt, post.slug);
       const postUrl = `${options.baseUrl}${canonicalPath}`;
       const updatedAt = post.updatedAt;
       postUrls.push({ loc: postUrl, lastmod: updatedAt.toISOString() });
+    }
+
+    for (const post of publishedListPosts) {
+      for (const tag of post.tags || []) allTags.add(tag);
+      for (const category of post.categories || []) allCategories.add(category);
+
+      const createdAt = resolvePostCreatedAt(post);
+      const updatedAt = post.updatedAt;
 
       const year = createdAt.getFullYear();
       const month = String(createdAt.getMonth() + 1).padStart(2, '0');
@@ -266,7 +332,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
       }
     }
 
-    const latestPostUpdatedAt = publishedPosts[0]?.updatedAt.toISOString() || now;
+    const latestPostUpdatedAt = publishedListPosts[0]?.updatedAt.toISOString() || now;
 
     onProgress(5, 'Building sitemap XML...');
 
@@ -396,7 +462,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     const atomPath = path.join(htmlDir, 'atom.xml');
 
     const estimatedUnitsBySection = this.estimateGenerationUnitsBySection(
-      publishedPosts,
+      publishedListPosts,
       allCategories,
       allTags,
       years,
@@ -442,7 +508,11 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
 
     const pageTitle = options.pageTitle || options.projectName;
     const language = options.language || 'en';
-    const pageContext = { page_title: pageTitle, language };
+    const pageContext = {
+      page_title: pageTitle,
+      language,
+      pico_stylesheet_href: getPicoStylesheetHref(sanitizePicoTheme(options.picoTheme)),
+    };
 
     const pageRenderer = new PageRenderer(this.mediaEngine, this.postMediaEngine);
     const rewriteContext = this.buildHtmlRewriteContext(publishedPosts);
@@ -451,7 +521,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
 
     if (includeCore) {
       onProgress(20, 'Generating root pages...');
-      pagesGenerated += await this.generateRootPages(options.projectId, publishedPosts, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, reportUnitProgress);
+      pagesGenerated += await this.generateRootPages(options.projectId, publishedListPosts, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, categorySettings, reportUnitProgress);
       pagesGenerated += await this.generatePageRoutes(options.projectId, publishedPosts, rewriteContext, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, reportUnitProgress);
     }
 
@@ -462,17 +532,17 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
 
     if (includeCategory) {
       onProgress(50, 'Generating category pages...');
-      pagesGenerated += await this.generateCategoryPages(options.projectId, publishedPosts, allCategories, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, reportUnitProgress);
+      pagesGenerated += await this.generateCategoryPages(options.projectId, publishedListPosts, allCategories, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, categorySettings, reportUnitProgress);
     }
 
     if (includeTag) {
       onProgress(65, 'Generating tag pages...');
-      pagesGenerated += await this.generateTagPages(options.projectId, publishedPosts, allTags, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, reportUnitProgress);
+      pagesGenerated += await this.generateTagPages(options.projectId, publishedListPosts, allTags, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, categorySettings, reportUnitProgress);
     }
 
     if (includeDate) {
       onProgress(80, 'Generating date archive pages...');
-      pagesGenerated += await this.generateDateArchivePages(options.projectId, publishedPosts, years, yearMonths, yearMonthDays, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, reportUnitProgress);
+      pagesGenerated += await this.generateDateArchivePages(options.projectId, publishedListPosts, years, yearMonths, yearMonthDays, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, categorySettings, reportUnitProgress);
     }
 
     onProgress(100, `Site generated (${publishedPosts.length} posts, ${pagesGenerated} pages)`);
@@ -561,8 +631,9 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     rewriteContext: HtmlRewriteContext,
     maxPostsPerPage: number,
     htmlDir: string,
-    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string },
+    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string; pico_stylesheet_href?: string },
     pageRenderer: PageRenderer,
+    categorySettings: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>,
     onPageGenerated: (message: string) => void,
   ): Promise<number> {
     const totalPages = Math.max(1, Math.ceil(posts.length / maxPostsPerPage));
@@ -579,6 +650,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
         archiveContext: { kind: 'root' },
         basePathname: '/',
         pagination: { page, maxPostsPerPage, totalPosts: posts.length },
+        categorySettings,
         ...pageContext,
       });
 
@@ -598,7 +670,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     posts: PostData[],
     rewriteContext: HtmlRewriteContext,
     htmlDir: string,
-    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string },
+    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string; pico_stylesheet_href?: string },
     pageRenderer: PageRenderer,
     onPageGenerated: (message: string) => void,
   ): Promise<number> {
@@ -627,8 +699,9 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     rewriteContext: HtmlRewriteContext,
     maxPostsPerPage: number,
     htmlDir: string,
-    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string },
+    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string; pico_stylesheet_href?: string },
     pageRenderer: PageRenderer,
+    categorySettings: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>,
     onPageGenerated: (message: string) => void,
   ): Promise<number> {
     let count = 0;
@@ -652,6 +725,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
           archiveContext: { kind: 'category', name: category },
           basePathname,
           pagination: { page, maxPostsPerPage, totalPosts: categoryPosts.length },
+          categorySettings,
           ...pageContext,
         });
 
@@ -676,8 +750,9 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     rewriteContext: HtmlRewriteContext,
     maxPostsPerPage: number,
     htmlDir: string,
-    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string },
+    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string; pico_stylesheet_href?: string },
     pageRenderer: PageRenderer,
+    categorySettings: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>,
     onPageGenerated: (message: string) => void,
   ): Promise<number> {
     let count = 0;
@@ -701,6 +776,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
           archiveContext: { kind: 'tag', name: tag },
           basePathname,
           pagination: { page, maxPostsPerPage, totalPosts: tagPosts.length },
+          categorySettings,
           ...pageContext,
         });
 
@@ -727,8 +803,9 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     rewriteContext: HtmlRewriteContext,
     maxPostsPerPage: number,
     htmlDir: string,
-    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string },
+    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string; pico_stylesheet_href?: string },
     pageRenderer: PageRenderer,
+    categorySettings: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>,
     onPageGenerated: (message: string) => void,
   ): Promise<number> {
     let count = 0;
@@ -736,7 +813,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     for (const [year] of Array.from(yearsMap.entries()).sort((a, b) => b[0] - a[0])) {
       const yearPosts = posts.filter((post) => resolvePostCreatedAt(post).getFullYear() === year);
       count += await this.generatePaginatedListPages(
-        projectId, yearPosts, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, onPageGenerated,
+        projectId, yearPosts, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, categorySettings, onPageGenerated,
         `${year}`, `/${year}`, { kind: 'year', year }, 'date',
       );
     }
@@ -750,7 +827,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
         return d.getFullYear() === year && (d.getMonth() + 1) === month;
       });
       count += await this.generatePaginatedListPages(
-        projectId, monthPosts, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, onPageGenerated,
+        projectId, monthPosts, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, categorySettings, onPageGenerated,
         ym, `/${ym}`, { kind: 'month', year, month }, 'date',
       );
     }
@@ -765,7 +842,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
         return d.getFullYear() === year && (d.getMonth() + 1) === month && d.getDate() === day;
       });
       count += await this.generatePaginatedListPages(
-        projectId, dayPosts, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, onPageGenerated,
+        projectId, dayPosts, rewriteContext, maxPostsPerPage, htmlDir, pageContext, pageRenderer, categorySettings, onPageGenerated,
         ymd, `/${ymd}`, { kind: 'day', year, month, day }, 'date',
       );
     }
@@ -779,8 +856,9 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
     rewriteContext: HtmlRewriteContext,
     maxPostsPerPage: number,
     htmlDir: string,
-    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string },
+    pageContext: { page_title: string; language: string; pico_stylesheet_href?: string },
     pageRenderer: PageRenderer,
+    categorySettings: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>,
     onPageGenerated: (message: string) => void,
     urlPrefix: string,
     basePathname: string,
@@ -803,6 +881,7 @@ export class BlogGenerationEngine {
         archiveContext,
         basePathname,
         pagination: { page, maxPostsPerPage, totalPosts: posts.length },
+        categorySettings,
         ...pageContext,
       });
 

src/main/engine/MetaEngine.ts

@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ export interface ProjectMetadata {
   defaultAuthor?: string; // Default author for new posts and media
   maxPostsPerPage?: number; // Preview/server maximum posts per page (default 50)
   picoTheme?: PicoThemeName; // Selected Pico CSS theme for preview/rendering
+  categorySettings?: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>; // Per-category list rendering preferences
+}
+
+export interface CategoryRenderSettings {
+  renderInLists: boolean;
+  showTitle: boolean;
 }
 
 const DEFAULT_MAX_POSTS_PER_PAGE = 50;
@@ -64,11 +70,13 @@ function normalizeProjectMetadata(metadata: ProjectMetadata): ProjectMetadata {
   const maxPostsPerPage = sanitizeMaxPostsPerPage(metadata.maxPostsPerPage);
   const publicUrl = sanitizePublicUrl(metadata.publicUrl);
   const picoTheme = sanitizePicoTheme(metadata.picoTheme);
+  const categorySettings = normalizeCategorySettings(metadata.categorySettings);
   return {
     ...metadata,
     publicUrl,
     maxPostsPerPage,
     picoTheme,
+    categorySettings,
   };
 }
 
@@ -77,6 +85,38 @@ function normalizeProjectMetadata(metadata: ProjectMetadata): ProjectMetadata {
  */
 export const DEFAULT_CATEGORIES = ['article', 'picture', 'aside', 'page'];
 
+export function getDefaultCategorySettings(): Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> {
+  return {
+    article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+    picture: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+    aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+    page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+  };
+}
+
+function normalizeCategorySettings(value: unknown): Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> {
+  const defaults = getDefaultCategorySettings();
+  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object') {
+    return defaults;
+  }
+
+  const normalized: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> = { ...defaults };
+  for (const [rawCategory, rawSettings] of Object.entries(value as Record<string, unknown>)) {
+    const category = normalizeTaxonomyTerm(rawCategory);
+    if (!category || !rawSettings || typeof rawSettings !== 'object') {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const settings = rawSettings as Record<string, unknown>;
+    normalized[category] = {
+      renderInLists: settings.renderInLists !== false,
+      showTitle: settings.showTitle !== false,
+    };
+  }
+
+  return normalized;
+}
+
 /**
  * MetaEngine manages project metadata like available tags and categories.
  * 
@@ -238,6 +278,21 @@ export class MetaEngine extends EventEmitter {
     const normalizedCategory = normalizeTaxonomyTerm(category);
     if (normalizedCategory && !this.categories.has(normalizedCategory)) {
       this.categories.add(normalizedCategory);
+      const currentMetadata = this.projectMetadata;
+      if (currentMetadata) {
+        const currentSettings = normalizeCategorySettings(currentMetadata.categorySettings);
+        if (!currentSettings[normalizedCategory]) {
+          currentSettings[normalizedCategory] = {
+            renderInLists: true,
+            showTitle: true,
+          };
+          this.projectMetadata = normalizeProjectMetadata({
+            ...currentMetadata,
+            categorySettings: currentSettings,
+          });
+          await this.saveProjectMetadata();
+        }
+      }
       this.emit('categoriesChanged', await this.getCategories());
       await this.saveCategories();
     }
@@ -249,6 +304,16 @@ export class MetaEngine extends EventEmitter {
   async removeCategory(category: string): Promise<void> {
     const normalizedCategory = normalizeTaxonomyTerm(category);
     if (this.categories.delete(normalizedCategory)) {
+      const currentMetadata = this.projectMetadata;
+      if (currentMetadata?.categorySettings?.[normalizedCategory]) {
+        const nextSettings = { ...currentMetadata.categorySettings };
+        delete nextSettings[normalizedCategory];
+        this.projectMetadata = normalizeProjectMetadata({
+          ...currentMetadata,
+          categorySettings: nextSettings,
+        });
+        await this.saveProjectMetadata();
+      }
       this.emit('categoriesChanged', await this.getCategories());
       await this.saveCategories();
     }
@@ -477,10 +542,31 @@ export class MetaEngine extends EventEmitter {
         name: projectData.name,
         description: projectData.description || undefined,
         maxPostsPerPage: DEFAULT_MAX_POSTS_PER_PAGE,
+        categorySettings: getDefaultCategorySettings(),
       };
       await this.saveProjectMetadata();
     }
 
+    if (this.projectMetadata) {
+      const mergedSettings = normalizeCategorySettings(this.projectMetadata.categorySettings);
+      let metadataChanged = false;
+
+      for (const category of this.categories) {
+        if (!mergedSettings[category]) {
+          mergedSettings[category] = { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true };
+          metadataChanged = true;
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (metadataChanged) {
+        this.projectMetadata = normalizeProjectMetadata({
+          ...this.projectMetadata,
+          categorySettings: mergedSettings,
+        });
+        await this.saveProjectMetadata();
+      }
+    }
+    
     this.initialized = true;
     console.log(`[MetaEngine] Sync complete. Tags: ${this.tags.size}, Categories: ${this.categories.size}`);
   }

src/main/engine/PageRenderer.ts

@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ export interface TemplatePostEntry {
   id: string;
   title: string;
   content: string;
+  show_title: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface CategoryRenderSettings {
+  renderInLists: boolean;
+  showTitle: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface DayBlockContext {
@@ -635,8 +641,24 @@ export class PageRenderer {
       pico_stylesheet_href?: string;
       html_theme_attribute?: string;
       pagination?: PaginationContext;
+      categorySettings?: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>;
     },
   ): PostListTemplateContext {
+    const shouldShowListTitle = (post: PostData): boolean => {
+      const categories = Array.isArray(post.categories) ? post.categories : [];
+      if (categories.length === 0) {
+        return true;
+      }
+
+      const settings = options.categorySettings ?? {};
+      const hasAnyNoTitleCategory = categories.some((category) => settings[category]?.showTitle === false);
+      if (hasAnyNoTitleCategory) {
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      return true;
+    };
+
     const dayBlocks: DayBlockContext[] = [];
 
     if (!options.archiveGrouping) {
@@ -648,6 +670,7 @@ export class PageRenderer {
           id: post.id,
           title: post.title,
           content: post.content,
+          show_title: shouldShowListTitle(post),
         })),
       });
     } else {
@@ -672,6 +695,7 @@ export class PageRenderer {
           id: post.id,
           title: post.title,
           content: post.content,
+          show_title: shouldShowListTitle(post),
         });
       }
 
@@ -786,6 +810,7 @@ export class PageRenderer {
       pico_stylesheet_href?: string;
       html_theme_attribute?: string;
       pagination?: PaginationContext;
+      categorySettings?: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>;
     },
     postEngine?: PostEngineContract,
   ): Promise<string> {
@@ -820,6 +845,7 @@ export class PageRenderer {
         id: renderablePost.id,
         title: renderablePost.title,
         content: renderablePost.content,
+        show_title: false,
       },
       canonical_post_path_by_slug: mapToRecord(rewriteContext.canonicalPostPathBySlug),
       canonical_media_path_by_source_path: mapToRecord(rewriteContext.canonicalMediaPathBySourcePath),

src/main/engine/PostEngine.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import * as crypto from 'crypto';
 import matter from 'gray-matter';
-import { eq, and, desc, gte, lte, like, inArray, ne } from 'drizzle-orm';
+import { eq, and, desc, gte, lte, like, inArray, ne, sql } from 'drizzle-orm';
 import { app } from 'electron';
 import { getDatabase } from '../database';
 import { posts, Post, NewPost, postLinks } from '../database/schema';
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ export interface PostFilter {
   status?: 'draft' | 'published' | 'archived';
   tags?: string[];
   categories?: string[];
+  excludeCategories?: string[];
   startDate?: Date;
   endDate?: Date;
   year?: number;
@@ -736,6 +737,28 @@ export class PostEngine extends EventEmitter {
       conditions.push(lte(posts.createdAt, endOfMonth));
     }
 
+    if (filter.categories && filter.categories.length > 0) {
+      const includePredicates = filter.categories.map((category) =>
+        sql`exists (
+          select 1
+          from json_each(${posts.categories}) as included_category
+          where included_category.value = ${category}
+        )`
+      );
+      conditions.push(sql`(${sql.join(includePredicates, sql` OR `)})`);
+    }
+
+    if (filter.excludeCategories && filter.excludeCategories.length > 0) {
+      const excludePredicates = filter.excludeCategories.map((category) =>
+        sql`exists (
+          select 1
+          from json_each(${posts.categories}) as excluded_category
+          where excluded_category.value = ${category}
+        )`
+      );
+      conditions.push(sql`NOT (${sql.join(excludePredicates, sql` OR `)})`);
+    }
+
     const dbPosts = await db
       .select()
       .from(posts)
@@ -749,17 +772,12 @@ export class PostEngine extends EventEmitter {
       // Use DB data directly instead of reading from filesystem
       const postData = this.dbRowToPostData(dbPost, dbPost.content || '');
       
-      // Client-side filtering for tags/categories (JSON array)
+      // Client-side filtering for tags only (category filtering is done in SQL)
       if (filter.tags && filter.tags.length > 0) {
         const hasAllTags = filter.tags.every(tag => postData.tags.includes(tag));
         if (!hasAllTags) continue;
       }
 
-      if (filter.categories && filter.categories.length > 0) {
-        const hasAnyCategory = filter.categories.some(cat => postData.categories.includes(cat));
-        if (!hasAnyCategory) continue;
-      }
-
       result.push(postData);
     }
 

src/main/engine/PreviewServer.ts

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   clampMaxPostsPerPage,
   parseRoutePagination,
   resolvePageTitle,
+  type CategoryRenderSettings,
   type HtmlRewriteContext,
   type MediaEngineContract,
   type PostMediaEngineContract,
@@ -170,6 +171,8 @@ export class PreviewServer {
       }
 
       const metadata = await this.settingsEngine.getProjectMetadata();
+      const categorySettings = this.resolveCategorySettings(metadata);
+      const listExcludedCategories = this.resolveListExcludedCategories(categorySettings);
       const language = metadata?.mainLanguage?.trim() || 'en';
       const pageTitle = resolvePageTitle(metadata, context.projectName, context.projectDescription);
       const maxPostsPerPage = clampMaxPostsPerPage(metadata?.maxPostsPerPage);
@@ -187,7 +190,7 @@ export class PreviewServer {
           language,
           picoStylesheetHref,
           htmlThemeAttribute: previewThemeMode && previewThemeMode !== 'auto' ? `data-theme="${previewThemeMode}"` : undefined,
-        });
+        }, categorySettings, listExcludedCategories);
         this.respond(res, 200, stylePreviewHtml);
         return;
       }
@@ -215,7 +218,7 @@ export class PreviewServer {
         language,
         picoStylesheetHref,
         htmlThemeAttribute: undefined,
-      });
+      }, categorySettings, listExcludedCategories);
       if (!result) {
         const notFoundHtml = await this.pageRenderer.renderNotFound({
           page_title: '404 Not Found',
@@ -239,6 +242,8 @@ export class PreviewServer {
     maxPostsPerPage: number,
     rewriteContext: HtmlRewriteContext,
     pageContext: { pageTitle: string; language: string; picoStylesheetHref: string; htmlThemeAttribute?: string },
+    categorySettings: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>,
+    listExcludedCategories: string[],
   ): Promise<string | null> {
     const routePagination = parseRoutePagination(pathname);
     if (!routePagination) {
@@ -311,13 +316,14 @@ export class PreviewServer {
     }
 
     if (pagedPathname === '/') {
-      const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published' }, pageOptions);
+      const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published', excludeCategories: listExcludedCategories }, pageOptions);
       return this.pageRenderer.renderPostList(result.posts, rewriteContext, {
         archiveGrouping: true,
         routeKind: 'date',
         archiveContext: { kind: 'root' },
         basePathname: pagedPathname,
         pagination: { page, maxPostsPerPage, totalPosts: result.totalPosts },
+        categorySettings,
         page_title: pageContext.pageTitle,
         language: pageContext.language,
         pico_stylesheet_href: pageContext.picoStylesheetHref,
@@ -328,13 +334,14 @@ export class PreviewServer {
     const tagMatch = pagedPathname.match(/^\/tag\/([^/]+)$/);
     if (tagMatch) {
       const tag = tagMatch[1];
-      const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published', tags: [tag] }, pageOptions);
+      const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published', tags: [tag], excludeCategories: listExcludedCategories }, pageOptions);
       return this.pageRenderer.renderPostList(result.posts, rewriteContext, {
         archiveGrouping: true,
         routeKind: 'non-date',
         archiveContext: { kind: 'tag', name: tag },
         basePathname: pagedPathname,
         pagination: { page, maxPostsPerPage, totalPosts: result.totalPosts },
+        categorySettings,
         page_title: pageContext.pageTitle,
         language: pageContext.language,
         pico_stylesheet_href: pageContext.picoStylesheetHref,
@@ -345,13 +352,14 @@ export class PreviewServer {
     const categoryMatch = pagedPathname.match(/^\/category\/([^/]+)$/);
     if (categoryMatch) {
       const category = categoryMatch[1];
-      const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published', categories: [category] }, pageOptions);
+      const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published', categories: [category], excludeCategories: listExcludedCategories }, pageOptions);
       return this.pageRenderer.renderPostList(result.posts, rewriteContext, {
         archiveGrouping: true,
         routeKind: 'non-date',
         archiveContext: { kind: 'category', name: category },
         basePathname: pagedPathname,
         pagination: { page, maxPostsPerPage, totalPosts: result.totalPosts },
+        categorySettings,
         page_title: pageContext.pageTitle,
         language: pageContext.language,
         pico_stylesheet_href: pageContext.picoStylesheetHref,
@@ -381,13 +389,17 @@ export class PreviewServer {
       const year = Number(dayMatch[1]);
       const month = Number(dayMatch[2]);
       const day = Number(dayMatch[3]);
-      const result = await this.loadPostsForDayPage(year, month, day, pageOptions);
+      const result = await this.loadPostsForDayPage(year, month, day, {
+        ...pageOptions,
+        excludeCategories: listExcludedCategories,
+      });
       return this.pageRenderer.renderPostList(result.posts, rewriteContext, {
         archiveGrouping: true,
         routeKind: 'date',
         archiveContext: { kind: 'day', year, month, day },
         basePathname: pagedPathname,
         pagination: { page, maxPostsPerPage, totalPosts: result.totalPosts },
+        categorySettings,
         page_title: pageContext.pageTitle,
         language: pageContext.language,
         pico_stylesheet_href: pageContext.picoStylesheetHref,
@@ -400,13 +412,14 @@ export class PreviewServer {
       const year = Number(monthMatch[1]);
       const month = Number(monthMatch[2]);
       if (month < 1 || month > 12) return null;
-      const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published', year, month: month - 1 }, pageOptions);
+      const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published', year, month: month - 1, excludeCategories: listExcludedCategories }, pageOptions);
       return this.pageRenderer.renderPostList(result.posts, rewriteContext, {
         archiveGrouping: true,
         routeKind: 'date',
         archiveContext: { kind: 'month', year, month },
         basePathname: pagedPathname,
         pagination: { page, maxPostsPerPage, totalPosts: result.totalPosts },
+        categorySettings,
         page_title: pageContext.pageTitle,
         language: pageContext.language,
         pico_stylesheet_href: pageContext.picoStylesheetHref,
@@ -417,13 +430,14 @@ export class PreviewServer {
     const yearMatch = pagedPathname.match(/^\/(\d{4})$/);
     if (yearMatch) {
       const year = Number(yearMatch[1]);
-      const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published', year }, pageOptions);
+      const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published', year, excludeCategories: listExcludedCategories }, pageOptions);
       return this.pageRenderer.renderPostList(result.posts, rewriteContext, {
         archiveGrouping: true,
         routeKind: 'date',
         archiveContext: { kind: 'year', year },
         basePathname: pagedPathname,
         pagination: { page, maxPostsPerPage, totalPosts: result.totalPosts },
+        categorySettings,
         page_title: pageContext.pageTitle,
         language: pageContext.language,
         pico_stylesheet_href: pageContext.picoStylesheetHref,
@@ -451,8 +465,10 @@ export class PreviewServer {
   private async renderStylePreview(
     rewriteContext: HtmlRewriteContext,
     pageContext: { pageTitle: string; language: string; picoStylesheetHref: string; htmlThemeAttribute?: string },
+    categorySettings: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>,
+    listExcludedCategories: string[],
   ): Promise<string> {
-    const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published' }, {
+    const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({ status: 'published', excludeCategories: listExcludedCategories }, {
       maxPostsPerPage: 10,
       page: 1,
     });
@@ -472,6 +488,7 @@ export class PreviewServer {
       archiveContext: { kind: 'root' },
       basePathname: '/__style-preview',
       pagination: { page: 1, maxPostsPerPage: 10, totalPosts: result.totalPosts },
+      categorySettings,
       page_title: pageContext.pageTitle,
       language: pageContext.language,
       pico_stylesheet_href: pageContext.picoStylesheetHref,
@@ -497,7 +514,7 @@ export class PreviewServer {
     year: number,
     month: number,
     day: number,
-    pagination?: { maxPostsPerPage: number; page?: number },
+    pagination?: { maxPostsPerPage: number; page?: number; excludeCategories?: string[] },
   ): Promise<PostData[]> {
     const result = await this.loadPostsForDayPage(year, month, day, pagination);
     return result.posts;
@@ -507,7 +524,7 @@ export class PreviewServer {
     year: number,
     month: number,
     day: number,
-    pagination?: { maxPostsPerPage: number; page?: number },
+    pagination?: { maxPostsPerPage: number; page?: number; excludeCategories?: string[] },
   ): Promise<{ posts: PostData[]; totalPosts: number }> {
     if (month < 1 || month > 12 || day < 1 || day > 31) {
       return { posts: [], totalPosts: 0 };
@@ -518,6 +535,7 @@ export class PreviewServer {
 
     const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage({
       status: 'published',
+      excludeCategories: pagination?.excludeCategories,
       startDate,
       endDate,
     }, pagination);
@@ -560,7 +578,7 @@ export class PreviewServer {
 
   private async loadPublishedSnapshots(
     filter: PostFilter,
-    pagination?: { maxPostsPerPage: number; page?: number },
+    pagination?: { maxPostsPerPage: number; page?: number; excludeCategories?: string[] },
   ): Promise<PostData[]> {
     const result = await this.loadPublishedSnapshotsPage(filter, pagination);
     return result.posts;
@@ -568,7 +586,7 @@ export class PreviewServer {
 
   private paginateSnapshots(
     snapshots: PostData[],
-    pagination?: { maxPostsPerPage: number; page?: number },
+    pagination?: { maxPostsPerPage: number; page?: number; excludeCategories?: string[] },
   ): { posts: PostData[]; totalPosts: number } {
     const totalPosts = snapshots.length;
 
@@ -590,7 +608,7 @@ export class PreviewServer {
 
   private async loadPublishedSnapshotsPage(
     filter: PostFilter,
-    pagination?: { maxPostsPerPage: number; page?: number },
+    pagination?: { maxPostsPerPage: number; page?: number; excludeCategories?: string[] },
   ): Promise<{ posts: PostData[]; totalPosts: number }> {
     if (filter.status && filter.status !== 'published') {
       return { posts: [], totalPosts: 0 };
@@ -600,10 +618,12 @@ export class PreviewServer {
     const publishedCandidates = await this.postEngine.getPostsFiltered({
       ...baseFilter,
       status: 'published',
+      excludeCategories: filter.excludeCategories,
     });
     const draftCandidates = await this.postEngine.getPostsFiltered({
       ...baseFilter,
       status: 'draft',
+      excludeCategories: filter.excludeCategories,
     });
 
     const snapshotCandidates = await Promise.all([
@@ -759,6 +779,41 @@ export class PreviewServer {
     }
   }
 
+  private resolveCategorySettings(metadata: ProjectMetadata | null): Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> {
+    const defaults: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> = {
+      article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+      picture: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+      aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+      page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+    };
+
+    const rawSettings = (metadata as { categorySettings?: unknown } | null)?.categorySettings;
+    if (!rawSettings || typeof rawSettings !== 'object') {
+      return defaults;
+    }
+
+    const mergedSettings: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> = { ...defaults };
+    for (const [category, rawValue] of Object.entries(rawSettings as Record<string, unknown>)) {
+      if (!rawValue || typeof rawValue !== 'object') {
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      const typedRawValue = rawValue as Record<string, unknown>;
+      mergedSettings[category] = {
+        renderInLists: typedRawValue.renderInLists !== false,
+        showTitle: typedRawValue.showTitle !== false,
+      };
+    }
+
+    return mergedSettings;
+  }
+
+  private resolveListExcludedCategories(categorySettings: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>): string[] {
+    return Object.entries(categorySettings)
+      .filter(([, settings]) => settings.renderInLists === false)
+      .map(([category]) => category);
+  }
+
   private respond(res: ServerResponse, status: number, body: string): void {
     res.statusCode = status;
     res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/html; charset=utf-8');

src/main/engine/templates/post-list.liquid

@@ -37,13 +37,23 @@
               <aside class="archive-day-marker"><span>{{ day_block.date_label }}</span></aside>
               <div class="archive-day-posts">
                 {% for post in day_block.posts %}
-                  <div class="post">{{ post.content | markdown: post.id, canonical_post_path_by_slug, canonical_media_path_by_source_path }}</div>
+                  <div class="post">
+                    {% if post.show_title %}
+                      <h2 class="post-title">{{ post.title }}</h2>
+                    {% endif %}
+                    {{ post.content | markdown: post.id, canonical_post_path_by_slug, canonical_media_path_by_source_path }}
+                  </div>
                 {% endfor %}
               </div>
             </section>
           {% else %}
             {% for post in day_block.posts %}
-              <div class="post">{{ post.content | markdown: post.id, canonical_post_path_by_slug, canonical_media_path_by_source_path }}</div>
+              <div class="post">
+                {% if post.show_title %}
+                  <h2 class="post-title">{{ post.title }}</h2>
+                {% endif %}
+                {{ post.content | markdown: post.id, canonical_post_path_by_slug, canonical_media_path_by_source_path }}
+              </div>
             {% endfor %}
           {% endif %}
 

src/main/ipc/blogHandlers.ts

@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ export function registerBlogHandlers(safeHandle: SafeHandle): void {
       maxPostsPerPage: metadata?.maxPostsPerPage,
       language,
       pageTitle,
+      picoTheme: metadata?.picoTheme,
+      categorySettings: (metadata as any)?.categorySettings,
     };
 
     const runSectionTask = async (

src/main/ipc/handlers.ts

@@ -863,7 +863,7 @@ export function registerIpcHandlers(): void {
     return engine.getProjectMetadata();
   });
 
-  safeHandle('meta:updateProjectMetadata', async (_, updates: { name?: string; description?: string; dataPath?: string; publicUrl?: string; mainLanguage?: string; defaultAuthor?: string; maxPostsPerPage?: number; picoTheme?: import('../shared/picoThemes').PicoThemeName }) => {
+  safeHandle('meta:updateProjectMetadata', async (_, updates: { name?: string; description?: string; dataPath?: string; publicUrl?: string; mainLanguage?: string; defaultAuthor?: string; maxPostsPerPage?: number; picoTheme?: import('../shared/picoThemes').PicoThemeName; categorySettings?: Record<string, { renderInLists: boolean; showTitle: boolean }> }) => {
     const engine = getMetaEngine();
     await engine.updateProjectMetadata(updates);
     return engine.getProjectMetadata();

src/main/preload.ts

@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ export const electronAPI: ElectronAPI = {
     syncOnStartup: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('meta:syncOnStartup'),
     getProjectMetadata: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('meta:getProjectMetadata'),
     setProjectMetadata: (metadata: { name: string; description?: string }) => ipcRenderer.invoke('meta:setProjectMetadata', metadata),
-    updateProjectMetadata: (updates: { name?: string; description?: string; dataPath?: string; mainLanguage?: string; defaultAuthor?: string; maxPostsPerPage?: number; picoTheme?: import('./shared/picoThemes').PicoThemeName }) => ipcRenderer.invoke('meta:updateProjectMetadata', updates),
+    updateProjectMetadata: (updates: { name?: string; description?: string; dataPath?: string; publicUrl?: string; mainLanguage?: string; defaultAuthor?: string; maxPostsPerPage?: number; picoTheme?: import('./shared/picoThemes').PicoThemeName; categorySettings?: Record<string, { renderInLists: boolean; showTitle: boolean }> }) => ipcRenderer.invoke('meta:updateProjectMetadata', updates),
   },
 
   // Tag Management (advanced tag operations)

src/main/shared/electronApi.ts

@@ -43,6 +43,12 @@ export interface ProjectMetadata {
   defaultAuthor?: string;
   maxPostsPerPage?: number;
   picoTheme?: import('./picoThemes').PicoThemeName;
+  categorySettings?: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>;
+}
+
+export interface CategoryRenderSettings {
+  renderInLists: boolean;
+  showTitle: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface ProjectData {
@@ -529,7 +535,7 @@ export interface ElectronAPI {
     syncOnStartup: () => Promise<{ tags: string[]; categories: string[]; projectMetadata: ProjectMetadata | null }>;
     getProjectMetadata: () => Promise<ProjectMetadata | null>;
     setProjectMetadata: (metadata: { name: string; description?: string }) => Promise<ProjectMetadata | null>;
-    updateProjectMetadata: (updates: { name?: string; description?: string; dataPath?: string; publicUrl?: string; mainLanguage?: string; defaultAuthor?: string; maxPostsPerPage?: number; picoTheme?: import('./picoThemes').PicoThemeName }) => Promise<ProjectMetadata | null>;
+    updateProjectMetadata: (updates: { name?: string; description?: string; dataPath?: string; publicUrl?: string; mainLanguage?: string; defaultAuthor?: string; maxPostsPerPage?: number; picoTheme?: import('./picoThemes').PicoThemeName; categorySettings?: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> }) => Promise<ProjectMetadata | null>;
   };
   tags: {
     getAll: () => Promise<TagData[]>;

src/renderer/components/SettingsView/SettingsView.css

@@ -353,8 +353,8 @@
 .category-item {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
-  gap: 6px;
+  gap: 12px;
-  padding: 6px 10px;
+  padding: 8px 10px;
   background-color: var(--vscode-badge-background);
   color: var(--vscode-badge-foreground);
   border-radius: 4px;
@@ -363,6 +363,25 @@
 
 .category-name {
   font-weight: 500;
+  min-width: 140px;
+}
+
+.category-settings-controls {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 12px;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+
+.category-setting-toggle {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 6px;
+  font-size: 12px;
+}
+
+.category-setting-toggle input[type="checkbox"] {
+  margin: 0;
 }
 
 .category-remove {

src/renderer/components/SettingsView/SettingsView.tsx

@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ interface Credentials {
   sshKeyPath: string;
 }
 
+interface CategoryRenderSettings {
+  renderInLists: boolean;
+  showTitle: boolean;
+}
+
 const defaultCredentials: Credentials = {
   ftpHost: '',
   ftpUser: '',
@@ -46,6 +51,13 @@ const SearchIcon = () => (
 // Default post categories based on VISION.md
 const DEFAULT_POST_CATEGORIES = ['article', 'picture', 'aside', 'page'];
 
+const DEFAULT_CATEGORY_SETTINGS: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> = {
+  article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+  picture: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+  aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+  page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+};
+
 // Standard categories that cannot be deleted
 const PROTECTED_CATEGORIES = ['article', 'aside', 'page', 'picture'];
 
@@ -115,6 +127,7 @@ export const SettingsView: React.FC = () => {
 
   // Post categories management
   const [postCategories, setPostCategories] = useState<string[]>(DEFAULT_POST_CATEGORIES);
+  const [categorySettings, setCategorySettings] = useState<Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings>>(DEFAULT_CATEGORY_SETTINGS);
   const [newCategoryInput, setNewCategoryInput] = useState('');
 
   // AI Assistant settings
@@ -165,6 +178,20 @@ export const SettingsView: React.FC = () => {
           ? metadata.maxPostsPerPage
           : 50;
         setProjectMaxPostsPerPage(maxPostsPerPage);
+
+        const incomingCategorySettings = (metadata as any)?.categorySettings as Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> | undefined;
+        setCategorySettings((current) => {
+          const merged = { ...DEFAULT_CATEGORY_SETTINGS, ...current };
+          if (incomingCategorySettings && typeof incomingCategorySettings === 'object') {
+            for (const [category, settings] of Object.entries(incomingCategorySettings)) {
+              merged[category] = {
+                renderInLists: settings?.renderInLists !== false,
+                showTitle: settings?.showTitle !== false,
+              };
+            }
+          }
+          return merged;
+        });
       });
     }
   }, [activeProject]);
@@ -182,9 +209,19 @@ export const SettingsView: React.FC = () => {
         const categories = await window.electronAPI?.meta.getCategories();
         if (categories && categories.length > 0) {
           setPostCategories(categories);
+          setCategorySettings((current) => {
+            const next = { ...DEFAULT_CATEGORY_SETTINGS, ...current };
+            for (const category of categories) {
+              if (!next[category]) {
+                next[category] = { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true };
+              }
+            }
+            return next;
+          });
         } else {
           // Initialize with defaults if no categories exist
           setPostCategories(DEFAULT_POST_CATEGORIES);
+          setCategorySettings(DEFAULT_CATEGORY_SETTINGS);
         }
 
         // Load AI settings
@@ -266,6 +303,7 @@ export const SettingsView: React.FC = () => {
           mainLanguage: projectMainLanguage,
           defaultAuthor: projectDefaultAuthor.trim() || undefined,
           maxPostsPerPage: Math.min(500, Math.max(1, Math.floor(projectMaxPostsPerPage || 50))),
+          categorySettings,
         });
       }
       showToast.success('Project settings saved');
@@ -537,6 +575,12 @@ export const SettingsView: React.FC = () => {
         if (updatedCategories) {
           setPostCategories(updatedCategories);
         }
+        const nextSettings = {
+          ...categorySettings,
+          [trimmed]: categorySettings[trimmed] || { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+        };
+        setCategorySettings(nextSettings);
+        await window.electronAPI?.meta.updateProjectMetadata({ categorySettings: nextSettings });
         setNewCategoryInput('');
         showToast.success(`Category "${trimmed}" added`);
       } catch (error) {
@@ -562,6 +606,10 @@ export const SettingsView: React.FC = () => {
       if (updatedCategories) {
         setPostCategories(updatedCategories);
       }
+      const nextSettings = { ...categorySettings };
+      delete nextSettings[categoryToRemove];
+      setCategorySettings(nextSettings);
+      await window.electronAPI?.meta.updateProjectMetadata({ categorySettings: nextSettings });
       showToast.success(`Category "${categoryToRemove}" removed`);
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('Failed to remove category:', error);
@@ -585,6 +633,9 @@ export const SettingsView: React.FC = () => {
       // Refresh the list
       const updatedCategories = await window.electronAPI?.meta.getCategories();
       setPostCategories(updatedCategories || DEFAULT_POST_CATEGORIES);
+      const defaults = { ...DEFAULT_CATEGORY_SETTINGS };
+      setCategorySettings(defaults);
+      await window.electronAPI?.meta.updateProjectMetadata({ categorySettings: defaults });
       showToast.success('Categories reset to defaults');
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('Failed to reset categories:', error);
@@ -592,6 +643,29 @@ export const SettingsView: React.FC = () => {
     }
   };
 
+  const handleCategorySettingToggle = async (
+    category: string,
+    field: keyof CategoryRenderSettings,
+    value: boolean,
+  ) => {
+    const nextSettings: Record<string, CategoryRenderSettings> = {
+      ...categorySettings,
+      [category]: {
+        ...(categorySettings[category] || { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true }),
+        [field]: value,
+      },
+    };
+
+    setCategorySettings(nextSettings);
+
+    try {
+      await window.electronAPI?.meta.updateProjectMetadata({ categorySettings: nextSettings });
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error('Failed to update category settings:', error);
+      showToast.error('Failed to update category settings');
+    }
+  };
+
   const renderContentSettings = () => (
     <SettingSection
       id="settings-section-content"
@@ -602,9 +676,32 @@ export const SettingsView: React.FC = () => {
         <div className="categories-list">
           {postCategories.map((cat) => {
             const isProtected = PROTECTED_CATEGORIES.includes(cat);
+            const setting = categorySettings[cat] || { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true };
             return (
             <div key={cat} className="category-item">
               <span className="category-name">{cat}{isProtected && ' (standard)'}</span>
+              <div className="category-settings-controls">
+                <label className="category-setting-toggle" htmlFor={`category-${cat}-render-in-lists`}>
+                  <input
+                    id={`category-${cat}-render-in-lists`}
+                    aria-label={`${cat} render in lists`}
+                    type="checkbox"
+                    checked={setting.renderInLists}
+                    onChange={(event) => handleCategorySettingToggle(cat, 'renderInLists', event.target.checked)}
+                  />
+                  <span>Render in lists</span>
+                </label>
+                <label className="category-setting-toggle" htmlFor={`category-${cat}-show-title`}>
+                  <input
+                    id={`category-${cat}-show-title`}
+                    aria-label={`${cat} show titles`}
+                    type="checkbox"
+                    checked={setting.showTitle}
+                    onChange={(event) => handleCategorySettingToggle(cat, 'showTitle', event.target.checked)}
+                  />
+                  <span>Show titles</span>
+                </label>
+              </div>
               {!isProtected && (
               <button
                 className="category-remove"

tests/engine/MetaEngine.test.ts

@@ -423,10 +423,10 @@ describe('MetaEngine', () => {
       });
       
       const metadata = await metaEngine.getProjectMetadata();
-      expect(metadata).toEqual({
+      expect(metadata).toEqual(expect.objectContaining({
         name: 'My Blog',
         description: 'A personal blog about technology',
-      });
+      }));
     });
 
     it('should update project name only', async () => {
@@ -593,6 +593,70 @@ describe('MetaEngine', () => {
       expect(parsed.picoTheme).toBe('slate');
     });
 
+    it('should apply default category settings for standard categories', async () => {
+      await metaEngine.setProjectMetadata({
+        name: 'Category Defaults Project',
+      } as any);
+
+      const metadata = await metaEngine.getProjectMetadata() as any;
+      expect(metadata.categorySettings).toEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+          picture: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+          aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+          page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should persist category settings to project.json', async () => {
+      await metaEngine.setProjectMetadata({
+        name: 'Persisted Category Settings',
+        categorySettings: {
+          article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+          aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+          page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+          custom: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+        },
+      } as any);
+
+      const metaDir = metaEngine.getMetaDir();
+      const projectPath = normalizePath(`${metaDir}/project.json`);
+      const content = mockFiles.get(projectPath);
+      const parsed = JSON.parse(content!);
+
+      expect(parsed.categorySettings).toEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          custom: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+          aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+          page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('should merge missing category settings with defaults when loading from filesystem', async () => {
+      const metaDir = metaEngine.getMetaDir();
+      const projectPath = normalizePath(`${metaDir}/project.json`);
+      mockFiles.set(projectPath, JSON.stringify({
+        name: 'Loaded Project',
+        categorySettings: {
+          custom: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: false },
+        },
+      }));
+
+      await metaEngine.loadProjectMetadata();
+
+      const metadata = await metaEngine.getProjectMetadata() as any;
+      expect(metadata.categorySettings).toEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          custom: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: false },
+          article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+          aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+          page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+        })
+      );
+    });
+
     it('should load picoTheme from filesystem', async () => {
       const metaDir = metaEngine.getMetaDir();
       const projectPath = normalizePath(`${metaDir}/project.json`);
@@ -691,10 +755,10 @@ describe('MetaEngine', () => {
         description: 'Testing events',
       });
       
-      expect(handler).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      expect(handler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
         name: 'Event Test',
         description: 'Testing events',
-      });
+      }));
     });
 
     it('should clear project metadata when project context changes', () => {

tests/engine/PreviewServer.test.ts

@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ function makeEngine(posts: PostData[]): PostEngineLike {
         result = result.filter((post) => filter.categories!.some((category) => post.categories.includes(category)));
       }
 
+      if ((filter as any).excludeCategories && (filter as any).excludeCategories.length > 0) {
+        result = result.filter((post) => !(filter as any).excludeCategories.some((category: string) => post.categories.includes(category)));
+      }
+
       if (filter.year !== undefined) {
         result = result.filter((post) => post.createdAt.getUTCFullYear() === filter.year);
       }
@@ -519,6 +523,108 @@ describe('PreviewServer', () => {
     expect(secondPageHtml).toContain('<h1 class="archive-heading">news - 1.1.2020 - 2.1.2020</h1>');
   });
 
+  it('filters out categories disabled for list rendering on list routes', async () => {
+    const posts = [
+      makePost({ id: 'list-1', slug: 'list-1', title: 'List Included', categories: ['article'], createdAt: new Date('2025-02-05T10:00:00.000Z') }),
+      makePost({ id: 'list-2', slug: 'list-2', title: 'List Excluded', categories: ['page'], createdAt: new Date('2025-02-04T10:00:00.000Z') }),
+    ];
+
+    server = new PreviewServer({
+      postEngine: makeEngine(posts),
+      settingsEngine: {
+        setProjectContext: vi.fn(),
+        async getProjectMetadata() {
+          return {
+            maxPostsPerPage: 50,
+            categorySettings: {
+              article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+              page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+            },
+          };
+        },
+      } as any,
+      getActiveProjectContext: async () => ({ projectId: 'default' }),
+    });
+
+    await server.start(0);
+
+    const html = await (await fetch(`${server.getBaseUrl()}/`)).text();
+    expect(html).toContain('List Included');
+    expect(html).not.toContain('List Excluded');
+  });
+
+  it('suppresses all list category titles when any assigned category has showTitle disabled', async () => {
+    const posts = [
+      makePost({
+        id: 'ct-1',
+        slug: 'ct-1',
+        title: 'Category Title Test',
+        categories: ['aside', 'article'],
+        content: 'Body without markdown headings',
+        createdAt: new Date('2025-02-05T10:00:00.000Z'),
+      }),
+    ];
+
+    server = new PreviewServer({
+      postEngine: makeEngine(posts),
+      settingsEngine: {
+        setProjectContext: vi.fn(),
+        async getProjectMetadata() {
+          return {
+            maxPostsPerPage: 50,
+            categorySettings: {
+              article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+              aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+            },
+          };
+        },
+      } as any,
+      getActiveProjectContext: async () => ({ projectId: 'default' }),
+    });
+
+    await server.start(0);
+
+    const html = await (await fetch(`${server.getBaseUrl()}/`)).text();
+    expect(html).not.toContain('<h2 class="post-title">Category Title Test</h2>');
+  });
+
+  it('renders post title in list when category titles are enabled', async () => {
+    const posts = [
+      makePost({
+        id: 'pt-1',
+        slug: 'pt-1',
+        title: 'Article Title',
+        categories: ['article'],
+        content: 'Body without markdown headings',
+        createdAt: new Date('2025-02-06T10:00:00.000Z'),
+      }),
+    ];
+
+    server = new PreviewServer({
+      postEngine: makeEngine(posts),
+      settingsEngine: {
+        setProjectContext: vi.fn(),
+        async getProjectMetadata() {
+          return {
+            maxPostsPerPage: 50,
+            categorySettings: {
+              article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+              aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+              page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+            },
+          };
+        },
+      } as any,
+      getActiveProjectContext: async () => ({ projectId: 'default' }),
+    });
+
+    await server.start(0);
+
+    const html = await (await fetch(`${server.getBaseUrl()}/`)).text();
+    expect(html).toContain('<h2 class="post-title">Article Title</h2>');
+    expect(html).not.toContain('<h2 class="post-category-title">article</h2>');
+  });
+
   it('supports tag, category, and page-slug routes', async () => {
     const tagged = makePost({ id: 'tag1', title: 'Tagged', slug: 'tagged', tags: ['dev'] });
     const categorized = makePost({ id: 'cat1', title: 'Categorized', slug: 'categorized', categories: ['news'] });
@@ -982,7 +1088,7 @@ describe('PreviewServer', () => {
       slug: 'published-slug',
       content: '# Published content only',
       tags: ['published-tag'],
-      categories: ['page'],
+      categories: ['article'],
       createdAt: new Date('2025-02-14T10:00:00.000Z'),
     });
 

tests/renderer/components/SettingsView.test.tsx

@@ -43,7 +43,16 @@ describe('SettingsView Diff Preferences', () => {
       meta: {
         ...(window as any).electronAPI?.meta,
         getCategories: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(['article', 'picture', 'aside', 'page']),
-        getProjectMetadata: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ maxPostsPerPage: 75, publicUrl: 'https://example.com' }),
+        getProjectMetadata: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+          maxPostsPerPage: 75,
+          publicUrl: 'https://example.com',
+          categorySettings: {
+            article: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+            picture: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: true },
+            aside: { renderInLists: true, showTitle: false },
+            page: { renderInLists: false, showTitle: true },
+          },
+        }),
         updateProjectMetadata: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ maxPostsPerPage: 12, publicUrl: 'https://example.com' }),
       },
       chat: {
@@ -107,4 +116,35 @@ describe('SettingsView Diff Preferences', () => {
       expect.objectContaining({ publicUrl: 'https://example.com' })
     );
   });
+
+  it('renders category settings checkboxes with required defaults', async () => {
+    render(<SettingsView />);
+
+    const asideShowTitle = await screen.findByLabelText(/aside show titles/i);
+    const asideRenderInLists = screen.getByLabelText(/aside render in lists/i);
+    const pageRenderInLists = screen.getByLabelText(/page render in lists/i);
+    const articleShowTitle = screen.getByLabelText(/article show titles/i);
+
+    expect((asideShowTitle as HTMLInputElement).checked).toBe(false);
+    expect((asideRenderInLists as HTMLInputElement).checked).toBe(true);
+    expect((pageRenderInLists as HTMLInputElement).checked).toBe(false);
+    expect((articleShowTitle as HTMLInputElement).checked).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('persists category settings changes via project metadata update', async () => {
+    render(<SettingsView />);
+
+    const pageRenderInLists = await screen.findByLabelText(/page render in lists/i);
+    fireEvent.click(pageRenderInLists);
+
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
+
+    expect((window as any).electronAPI.meta.updateProjectMetadata).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        categorySettings: expect.objectContaining({
+          page: expect.objectContaining({ renderInLists: true, showTitle: true }),
+        }),
+      })
+    );
+  });
 });