Update: For the latest and most comprehensive feature overview, see Tenrankai 2026 Update: Professional Photography Workflows, which covers all the features below plus S3 storage, AI analysis, collaboration tools, and more.

Several new features in Tenrankai make it even more flexible, secure, and privacy-focused. These updates reflect our commitment to a photo gallery server that respects both photographers and viewers while maintaining the simplicity of our file-based approach.

Image Indexing Modes: Control Your URLs

One of our most requested features is now available - flexible image indexing modes. You can now choose how your images are referenced in URLs:

Three Indexing Modes

  1. Filename Mode (default): Traditional URLs that expose actual filenames

    • Example: /gallery/image/vacation/sunset.jpg
    • Best for: Public galleries where filenames don’t matter

  2. Sequence Mode: URLs use sequential numbers within folders

    • Example: /gallery/image/vacation/1
    • Best for: Organized collections where order matters

  3. Unique ID Mode: URLs use short base36 identifiers

    • Example: /gallery/image/vacation/a3k2x
    • Best for: Privacy-conscious galleries, preventing filename enumeration

Configure it in your gallery TOML file:

# config.d/sites/default/galleries/main.toml
image_indexing = "unique_id"  # or "filename" or "sequence"

Enhanced Privacy Controls

Hide Technical Details Per Folder

Sometimes you want to share photos without revealing technical metadata. Now you can hide camera information, GPS data, and other technical details on a per-folder basis.

In any _folder.md file:

+++
hide_technical_details = true
+++

This hides:

  • Image metadata (dimensions, file size, capture date)
  • Camera information (make, model, settings)
  • Location data (GPS coordinates, maps)

Date Privacy for Public Viewers

The can_see_exact_dates permission controls whether viewers see full capture timestamps or only approximate month/year dates. By default, non-authenticated users see only approximate dates, adding another layer of privacy for personal galleries.

Modern Authentication with WebAuthn

Tenrankai now supports WebAuthn/Passkeys for passwordless authentication:

  • Biometric login: Use fingerprint, face recognition, or hardware security keys
  • Cross-device sync: Passkeys sync across your devices
  • Enhanced security: No passwords to steal or phish
  • Multiple passkeys: Register multiple devices per account

Folder-Level Access Control

Control who can access specific folders with the role-based permission system. Combine hidden = true in _folder.md with role-based gallery permissions to restrict access:

# In permissions.toml or [galleries.permissions]
public_role = "none"
default_authenticated_role = "viewer"

[roles.viewer.permissions]
can_view = true

Perfect for:

  • Family photo albums
  • Client galleries
  • Private collections within public galleries

Cascading Directories

Tenrankai now supports multiple template and static file directories, making it easier to customize your gallery without modifying core files:

In site.toml:

templates = ["templates-custom", "templates"]
static_files = ["static-custom", "static"]

Files in the first directory take precedence, allowing clean customization and easier updates.

AVIF with Smart Fallbacks

For those using AVIF images (with HDR and gain maps), Tenrankai now intelligently serves fallback formats:

  • Original AVIF images are always served as AVIF (preserving HDR)
  • Resized images automatically fall back to WebP or JPEG for incompatible browsers
  • No configuration needed - it just works!

Modern JavaScript-Enhanced Interface

The gallery now includes a unified JavaScript bundle that provides:

  • Faster navigation with smooth transitions
  • Lazy loading for optimal performance
  • Enhanced mobile touch interactions
  • Improved accessibility with keyboard navigation
  • Automatic theme switching (dark/light mode)

Getting Started

Update to the latest version of Tenrankai to access all these features:

git pull
npm ci
cd admin && npm ci && cd ..
cargo build --release

Check out the Core Concepts documentation for detailed setup instructions.

Have feedback or feature requests? Get involved with the Tenrankai community!