diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index dd10bc1..fd8420c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -41,10 +41,11 @@ jobs:
           print(f'argus {argus.__version__} — config OK, {len(cfg[\"tags\"])} workstreams')
           "
       # Proves the "works with no API key" promise, writing outside the repo so
-      # the committed dashboard is never touched by a test run.
+      # the committed dashboard is never touched by a test run. --force because
+      # the template ships with the sweep switched off; CI must still exercise it.
       - name: Pipeline runs end-to-end with no secrets at all
         run: |
-          python -m argus.run --stage score  --db "$RUNNER_TEMP/ci.db"
-          python -m argus.run --stage render --db "$RUNNER_TEMP/ci.db" --out "$RUNNER_TEMP/index.html"
+          python -m argus.run --stage score  --db "$RUNNER_TEMP/ci.db" --force
+          python -m argus.run --stage render --db "$RUNNER_TEMP/ci.db" --out "$RUNNER_TEMP/index.html" --force
           grep -q "<title>" "$RUNNER_TEMP/index.html"
           git diff --exit-code   # a test run must leave the tree clean
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pipeline.yml b/.github/workflows/pipeline.yml
index c935466..750141f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pipeline.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pipeline.yml
@@ -14,7 +14,32 @@ permissions:
   id-token: write   # required by actions/deploy-pages
   issues: write     # open a failure alert
 jobs:
+  # The master switch, read before anything expensive happens. A disabled repo
+  # spends a few seconds here and nothing else — no dependency install, no
+  # collection, no Pages deploy. A manual dispatch runs regardless, so you can
+  # always try a sweep without editing config.
+  gate:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    timeout-minutes: 5
+    outputs:
+      enabled: ${{ steps.check.outputs.enabled }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - id: check
+        run: |
+          if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" = "workflow_dispatch" ]; then
+            echo "enabled=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            echo "manual dispatch — running regardless of the config switch"
+          elif grep -qiE '^enabled:[[:space:]]*(false|no|off)([[:space:]]*#.*)?$' config.yaml; then
+            echo "enabled=false" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+            echo "::notice::Scheduled sweep is switched off. Set 'enabled: true' in config.yaml once your sources are configured. Run this workflow manually to try a one-off sweep."
+          else
+            echo "enabled=true" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          fi
+
   run:
+    needs: gate
+    if: needs.gate.outputs.enabled == 'true'
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 20   # a wedged collector should fail the run, not hang for 6h
     steps:
@@ -81,10 +106,12 @@ jobs:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/pages.yml
     permissions: {contents: read, pages: write, id-token: write}
 
-  # `always()` so a failed sweep still alerts — that is the entire point.
+  # `always()` so a failed sweep still alerts — that is the entire point. Gated
+  # on the switch too, so a deliberately-off repo doesn't spin a runner to
+  # report that nothing happened.
   alert:
-    needs: run
-    if: always()
+    needs: [gate, run]
+    if: always() && needs.gate.outputs.enabled == 'true'
     uses: ./.github/workflows/alert.yml
     with: {conclusion: "${{ needs.run.result }}"}
     permissions: {contents: read, issues: write}
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2387856..79ee73e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,18 @@ publish a tag that disagrees with it.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+
+- **A master switch: `enabled` in `config.yaml`.** `false` means scheduled
+  sweeps do nothing — no collection, no scoring, no commit — while a manual run
+  of the pipeline workflow still works. Checked in a cheap `gate` job before any
+  dependency install, so a switched-off repository costs seconds rather than a
+  full sweep. `--force` overrides it locally.
+- The template now ships with `enabled: false`. It was sweeping every 8 hours
+  for the example field, and — worse — whatever it collected became the starting
+  data of every repository created from it. The committed database and dashboard
+  are reset to empty for the same reason.
+
 ## [1.3.0] — 2026-08-09
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e9cbdbf..a4291e6 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ install:
 dry-run:            ## collect + per-source counts, no writes
 	python -m argus.run --dry-run
 
+# ARGS passes flags through, e.g. make run ARGS=--force while `enabled: false`
 run:                ## full pipeline (keyword mode unless a provider key is set)
-	python -m argus.run
+	python -m argus.run $(ARGS)
 
 collect:
 	python -m argus.run --stage collect
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2b0d942..51a79b3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ file. Works with **no API key** (keyword scoring) and **no email** (dashboard
 only) — every capability degrades cleanly when its secret is absent, and a run
 prints which scorer it actually used.
 
+> **A fresh copy starts switched off.** `config.yaml` ships with
+> `enabled: false` so it doesn't sweep for the example field before it's yours.
+> Set `enabled: true` once your sources are configured — step 5 below.
+
 > This is a **fork-per-person template**. Each researcher runs their own copy,
 > pointed at their own topics. It ships configured for one example field
 > (Southeast-Asia power systems) so it runs out of the box — replace that config
@@ -36,7 +40,11 @@ prints which scorer it actually used.
    few-shot examples for your work. This is the system prompt used for LLM scoring.
 4. **Pick a scorer** — see the table below. The free keyword scorer needs
    nothing; an LLM scorer needs one API key, and several are free.
-5. **Turn on Actions and Pages.** Two one-time switches in your fork:
+5. **Switch it on.** `config.yaml` ships with `enabled: false`, so a fresh
+   copy doesn't sweep for the example field before it's yours. Set
+   `enabled: true` when steps 1-3 are done. (A manual run of the pipeline
+   workflow always works, switch or no switch, if you want to try one first.)
+6. **Turn on Actions and Pages.** Two one-time switches in your fork:
    - **Actions** tab → enable workflows (forks start with them disabled).
    - **Settings → Pages → Source: GitHub Actions** — needed once before the
      dashboard can publish. Skip it and everything still works; the sweep just
@@ -193,13 +201,27 @@ your scoring provider unless `digest.synthesis_provider` says otherwise.
 ```bash
 make install    # pip install -r requirements.txt
 make dry-run    # collect + per-source counts, no writes
-make run        # full pipeline
+make run        # full pipeline   (ARGS=--force while `enabled: false`)
 make test       # offline unit tests — no network, no keys
 make journals   # find a journal's ISSN by name, or audit your watchlist
 make vacuum     # reclaim DB space after pruning (occasional; see below)
 open docs/index.html
 ```
 
+### Pausing it
+
+`enabled: false` in `config.yaml` stops scheduled sweeps entirely — no
+collection, no scoring, no commits. Useful for a template, and equally for going
+on leave or quieting a radar you're mid-way through retuning.
+
+It's checked before anything expensive happens, so a paused repo costs a few
+seconds per schedule rather than a full sweep. Running the pipeline workflow
+**manually still works** either way, and locally you can force one:
+
+```bash
+make run ARGS=--force
+```
+
 ### Sweep cadence and the commit log
 
 Each sweep appends to a per-source run log, so the SQLite file changes every
diff --git a/argus/run.py b/argus/run.py
index a1246ce..2a69114 100644
--- a/argus/run.py
+++ b/argus/run.py
@@ -34,6 +34,21 @@ def _read(path: str) -> str:
         return f.read()
 
 
+def enabled(cfg: dict) -> bool:
+    """Is the sweep switched on? Defaults to True, so an existing config that
+    predates this switch keeps running.
+
+    The template ships with it off. Two reasons: a template shouldn't burn
+    Actions minutes collecting for an example field nobody is reading, and
+    whatever it collected would otherwise become the starting data of every
+    repository created from it.
+    """
+    value = cfg.get("enabled", True)
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        return value.strip().lower() not in ("false", "no", "off", "0", "")
+    return bool(value)
+
+
 def _library_due(conn, lib_cfg: dict) -> bool:
     """Library discovery runs at most every `every_days` (default 7) — it's a
     weekly shortlist, not something to rebuild every 4h. dry-run (conn=None) always runs."""
@@ -136,6 +151,16 @@ def score(conn, cfg: dict, kw: dict, mode: str, spec: dict) -> dict:
 
 def run_pipeline(args) -> int:
     cfg = _load_yaml(args.config)
+
+    # The master switch. Off means a scheduled sweep does nothing at all: no
+    # collection, no scoring, no commit. `--force` overrides it so you can still
+    # try a run by hand without editing config.
+    if not enabled(cfg) and not args.force:
+        print("sweep disabled — config.yaml has `enabled: false`. "
+              "Set it to true once your sources are configured, "
+              "or run with --force for a one-off.")
+        return 0
+
     sources = _load_yaml(os.path.join(ROOT, "registry", "sources.yaml"))
     kw = sources.get("keywords", {})
     window_days = cfg.get("window_days", 7)
@@ -195,6 +220,8 @@ def main(argv=None) -> int:
     p.add_argument("--db", default=None)
     p.add_argument("--out", default=None, help="dashboard path (default docs/index.html)")
     p.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true")
+    p.add_argument("--force", action="store_true",
+                   help="run even when config.yaml has `enabled: false`")
     p.add_argument("--vacuum", action="store_true",
                    help="reclaim space after pruning (rewrites the whole file — occasional, not scheduled)")
     p.add_argument("--force-digest", action="store_true")
diff --git a/config.yaml b/config.yaml
index 6c9f7a6..a56accb 100644
--- a/config.yaml
+++ b/config.yaml
@@ -3,6 +3,16 @@
 #   * edit registry/sources.yaml (your queries, journals, feeds, keywords)
 #   * edit `tags` (your workstreams) and prompts/research.md (your profile+rubric)
 #   * pick a scoring provider below (several are free)
+# MASTER SWITCH. `false` means scheduled sweeps do nothing at all — no
+# collection, no scoring, no commit. A manual run of the pipeline workflow still
+# works, so you can try one without editing this.
+#
+# It ships OFF in the template on purpose: an unconfigured copy would otherwise
+# collect for the example field below, burn Actions minutes, and hand whatever
+# it gathered to the next person who uses the template as their starting data.
+# Turn it on once steps 1-3 of the README are done and your sources are yours.
+enabled: false
+
 title: "ARGUS"
 
 window_days: 7          # collectors ignore items older than this
diff --git a/data/argus.db b/data/argus.db
index 2bc28ae..d2f7d8e 100644
Binary files a/data/argus.db and b/data/argus.db differ
diff --git a/docs/index.html b/docs/index.html
index c643bca..1144370 100644
--- a/docs/index.html
+++ b/docs/index.html
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
 <div class="wrap">
   <header>
     <div class="brand"><h1>ARGUS</h1></div>
-    <div class="stamp"><span class="dot"></span>updated 2026-08-09 02:30 UTC</div>
+    <div class="stamp"><span class="dot"></span>updated 2026-08-09 03:49 UTC</div>
   </header>
 
   
@@ -106,475 +106,13 @@
 
   
 
-  <div class="sec"><h2>Recent</h2><span class="rule"></span><span class="count">29 items</span></div>
+  <div class="sec"><h2>Recent</h2><span class="rule"></span><span class="count">0 items</span></div>
   
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score hi">8</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2026.113949">Economic optimization dispatch of microgrids based on finite-time dynamic event-triggered algorithms</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Electric Power Systems Research</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-07"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">7</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2026.113876">Two-level stochastic programming for optimal operation of wind-thermal-hydropower systems in day-ahead and balancing markets</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Electric Power Systems Research</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-07"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">7</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2026.113942">Research on Bi-level cooperative optimization algorithm of wind turbine layout and cable topology in floating offshore wind farm</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Electric Power Systems Research</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-07"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2026.113946">Voltage sag support strategy based on cooperative optimization control of photovoltaic inverter currents</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Electric Power Systems Research</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-07"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2026.113915">Location-aware reactive power control for V2G-enabled distribution networks: Optimization framework and real-time embedded validation</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Electric Power Systems Research</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-07"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score hi">8</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.05567v1">SDDmiP.jl: A Software Package with a Provably Convergent Benders Algorithm for Multi-Stage Stochastic Mixed-Integer Programming</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>arXiv</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-06"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#33BBEE">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">7</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115518">Impact of renewable energy communities on the Italian day-ahead electricity market: A scenario analysis</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Market reform</span>
-          <span>Energy Policy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-06"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE7733">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.05901v1">From Value Bounds to Policy-Distance and Active-Face Certificates: Same-Grid Duality for Constrained Dynamic Portfolios</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Stakeholder intel</span>
-          <span>arXiv</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-06"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#33BBEE">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score hi">10</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2026.128552">Can Italy decarbonise without raising bills? A scenario-based assessment of renewable, flexibility and adequacy policies on power system costs through 2035</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Market reform</span>
-          <span>Applied Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-05"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score hi">9</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.05413v1">A Relaxation-Based Decomposition Approach for Solving a Supported-Evacuation Problem in Wildfires</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>arXiv</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-05"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score hi">8</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.22541/authorea.15007070/v1">Integrated Nuclear–Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems for Energy Security and Long-Term Decarbonization: A Sustainable Energy Approach for Sumba Island</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>openalex:Indonesia power system planning (preprint)</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-05"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">7</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2026.102095">Multi-objective neural networks-based aerodynamic shape optimization and performance analysis of vertical axis wind turbine blade profile</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-05"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#33BBEE">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2026.102097">Resource-driven regulatory indicators for sustainable energy: Modern renewables and efficiency challenges in achieving SDG 7 in Asia</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Market reform</span>
-          <span>Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-05"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.05460v1">A proximal subgradient method for nonconvex stochastic optimization under the Kurdyka-Łojasiewicz condition</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>arXiv</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-05"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#33BBEE">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYEFVX3lxTE9jY2FHT0ZCNnpzdkRfcWNxZDhjcVNkamI1dHNycWY4S0xJX2ZxSl80Y05XV1FzbUpNcU15cnlJcVlKTkxWTVI4V2VSdlFOTGhydEs3WGlpY3VVbXNMRmw3WQ?oc=5">BGRIM Aligns Renewable Targets With Vietnam’s PDP8, Eyes 2,000MW Capacity by 2030 - kaohoon international</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Market reform</span>
-          <span>gnews:Vietnam PDP8 electricity</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-05"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#CC3311">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score hi">9</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxOQUFnVHJFMUtOdlZVNEZpQjBRN1RyT0dHZ21oMmNtLU1kMTFDcHA5Z0g0Z2ZPdzFxWDBQakJzTGpSTTJ5U1VkVV9WeWVncGQ5R2lLbzNxcmRLbzlBTzV0eDJpOV9hUnJBdGVsWjdnbTFOdnp0SlZTeWdCUFpXSldwZGRJR2tiU0ZQcE80?oc=5">Indonesia’s captive coal: Under-the-radar expansion - dialogue.earth</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Industrial power</span>
-          <span>gnews:captive coal nickel Indonesia</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-04"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score hi">8</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2026.128588">Joint optimization of electric bus operation and battery charging considering renewable microgrid interactions</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Applied Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-04"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2026.128561">Distributionally robust capacity optimization for hydrogen-based multi-energy systems: Integrating chain-wide energy conversion characteristics under variable operating conditions</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Applied Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-04"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
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-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2026.141984">Multi-objective optimization of double-H finned tube heat exchangers via CFD-DEM: Entropy generation, fouling, and erosion analysis</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-04"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">7</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2026.128540">A novel yawed wake model capturing full-wake heterogeneity with application to layout-yaw co-optimization in utility-scale wind farms</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Applied Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-03"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#888888">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.54337/ijsepm.11598">Sustainable energy planning with district heating , PV solar and hybrid wind-solar systems</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">none</span>
-          <span>International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-03"></span>
-        </div>
-        
-      </div>
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-  </div>
-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#33BBEE">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115516">Managing stranded assets in Germany&#39;s gas distribution grid: Regulatory challenges and a just-transition policy roadmap</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Market reform</span>
-          <span>Energy Policy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-03"></span>
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-  
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-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2026.128533">Optimizing the configuration and capacity of flexibility retrofits in multiple power plants using a bi-level optimization approach</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Applied Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-03"></span>
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-        
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-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2026.142137">Multifunctional triply periodic minimal surface-based metal hydride reactors: Topology optimization for enhanced thermal transport and hydrogen storage</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-03"></span>
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-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#CC3311">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2026.142089">Multi-timescale optimal scheduling of an electrolytic aluminum industrial park: coupling of heterogeneous production processes and transmission-distribution dual risk</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Industrial power</span>
-          <span>Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
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-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
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-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2026.142149">Optimization and offshore performance tests of low-velocity current energy blades with integrated winglets</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-03"></span>
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-  
-  <div class="row" style="--c:#33BBEE">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score hi">10</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2026.128567">Electricity market reform proposals through the lens of the energy trilemma: A state-of-the-art review</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Market reform</span>
-          <span>Applied Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-02"></span>
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-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2026.142106">Operational parameter analysis and optimization of CFPP -TES coupled system based on combined main and reheat steam extraction</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-02"></span>
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-        
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-  <div class="row" style="--c:#EE3377">
-    <div class="top">
-      <span class="score">6</span>
-      <div class="body">
-        <a class="title" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2026.142143">In-depth exploration of trade-offs in multi-objective optimization operation of reservoir group: the interactions among socio-economic water, ecological water, and hydropower generation in arid regions</a>
-        <div class="meta">
-          <span class="chip">Methods &amp; tools</span>
-          <span>Energy</span>
-          <span class="sep">·</span>
-          <span class="ago" data-date="2026-08-02"></span>
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-        
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-  </div>
+  <p class="empty">No research items above threshold yet.</p>
   
 
   <footer>
-    29 items · scorer: <code>keyword</code>
+    0 items · scorer: <code>keyword</code>
     
     
   </footer>
diff --git a/tests/test_argus.py b/tests/test_argus.py
index fed14cc..06d6430 100644
--- a/tests/test_argus.py
+++ b/tests/test_argus.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 ROOT = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 sys.path.insert(0, ROOT)
 
-from argus import store, filter as flt, render, digest, providers, context
+from argus import store, filter as flt, render, digest, providers, context, run as run_mod
 from argus.net import normalize_url
 from argus.collectors import library
 from argus.collectors.library import parse_dois
@@ -444,3 +444,39 @@ def test_dashboard_excludes_library_items(tmp_path):
     html = open(render.render(conn, sample_cfg(), str(tmp_path / "index.html")), encoding="utf-8").read()
     assert "Public arxiv paper" in html
     assert "MY-LIBRARY-only paper" not in html   # library items are digest-only
+
+
+def test_master_switch_defaults_to_on_and_parses_yaml_falsey():
+    """A config predating this switch must keep running."""
+    assert run_mod.enabled({}) is True
+    assert run_mod.enabled({"enabled": True}) is True
+    for off in (False, "false", "False", "no", "off", "0", ""):
+        assert run_mod.enabled({"enabled": off}) is False, off
+    for on in (True, "true", "yes", "on"):
+        assert run_mod.enabled({"enabled": on}) is True, on
+
+
+def test_disabled_sweep_does_nothing_but_force_overrides(tmp_path, capsys, monkeypatch):
+    """Off must mean no collection and no writes — not merely no commit."""
+    cfg = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
+    cfg.write_text("enabled: false\nshow_threshold: 6\nhighlight_threshold: 8\n"
+                   "tags: {methods: {label: M, color: '#000'}}\nscoring: {mode: keyword}\n"
+                   "digest: {enabled: false}\nprompt: prompts/research.md\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    db = tmp_path / "out.db"
+
+    called = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(run_mod, "collect_all", lambda *a, **k: called.append(1) or ([], []))
+
+    assert run_mod.main(["--config", str(cfg), "--db", str(db), "--stage", "collect"]) == 0
+    assert "sweep disabled" in capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert called == []            # never collected
+    assert not db.exists()         # never even opened the database
+
+    assert run_mod.main(["--config", str(cfg), "--db", str(db), "--stage", "collect", "--force"]) == 0
+    assert called == [1]           # --force runs it
+
+
+def test_shipped_config_has_the_switch_off_for_the_template():
+    """The template must not sweep: whatever it collected would become the
+    starting data of every repository created from it."""
+    assert run_mod.enabled(sample_cfg()) is False