Add validator chain provenance

2026-07-07 21:10:29 +00:00
parent b7ad66f0e0
commit d593bfee0a
20 changed files with 845 additions and 324 deletions
--- a/docs/integrations/json-output.md
+++ b/docs/integrations/json-output.md
@@ -82,6 +82,14 @@ sanitizing the lane ID:
      "normalizer": "noop"
    }
  ],
+  "validator_chains": [
+    {
+      "stage": "extract",
+      "lane_id": "spells",
+      "module_key": "dnd/spells",
+      "validators": []
+    }
+  ],
  "validation_status": "approved",
  "started_at": "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z",
  "completed_at": "2026-01-01T00:00:01Z"
@@ -103,6 +111,11 @@ references.
 `validation_status` is `approved` when no raw outputs were rejected and
 `rejected` when one or more raw outputs were rejected.

+`validator_chains` records the resolved validator chain for each validation
+point. Entries include stage, lane ID when applicable, module key, and validators
+with key and execution class. Empty chains are recorded with an empty
+`validators` array.
+
 `normalized_outputs` summarizes each normalized lane output without embedding
 payload bytes. Entries include lane ID, normalizer module key, source ID, media
 type, and response schema provenance where available.
--- a/docs/roadmap/validation.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/validation.md
@@ -3,17 +3,15 @@
 This roadmap defines the target state for making validation a first-class,
 composable pipeline concern.

-Current pipeline behavior is raw-output based. The runner can execute
-`contracts.RawValidator` chains from `pipeline.RawValidationRegistry` for
-`chunk`, `extract`, `merge`, and `normalize` outputs. Empty chains approve by
+Current pipeline behavior is raw-output based. The runner validates `chunk`,
+`extract`, `merge`, and `normalize` outputs through `contracts.Validator`
+chains resolved from `pipeline.ValidatorChainRegistry`. Empty chains approve by
 default, validator rejection records a rejected raw output, and rejected output
-does not pass to the next stage. Production currently registers no raw
-validators, and non-empty pipeline-configured validator lists are rejected so
-they cannot appear in manifests without executing.
+does not pass to the next stage. Production currently registers no validators,
+and non-empty pipeline-configured validator lists are rejected until
+stage-scoped override syntax is implemented.

-Legacy candidate validator contracts and D&D spell validators still exist under
-`internal/modules/extract/dnd/spells`, but they are not part of the current
-runner path. The desired end state is that validator implementations, validator
+The desired end state is that validator implementations, validator
 registration, and default module-to-validator mappings are explicit, reviewable,
 and independent of concrete module packages.

@@ -21,9 +19,8 @@ and independent of concrete module packages.

 - Move artifact and module-output validation behavior out of `internal/modules`
  and into `internal/validators`.
- Retire or replace the legacy candidate-oriented `contracts.Validator`,
-  `ValidationRequest`, and `ValidationResult` path after equivalent raw-output
-  validators exist.
+- Keep the raw module-output `contracts.Validator`, `ValidationRequest`, and
+  `ValidationResult` path as the single framework validator contract.
 - Keep each validator in its own package.
 - Mirror the stage and domain shape of `internal/modules` where a validator is
  module-specific.
@@ -261,11 +258,10 @@ The validator framework should support validation of outputs from `chunk`,
 enough for stage-specific validators to inspect the output they care about while
 ignoring irrelevant fields.

-The current `contracts.RawValidationRequest` is the right starting point. It
-already carries stage, lane, module, source, source and chunk provenance,
-response schema metadata, raw payload, and run metadata. The final contract
-should evolve from that raw-output shape rather than from the legacy
-artifact-candidate `ValidationRequest`.
+The current `contracts.ValidationRequest` carries stage, lane, module, source,
+source and chunk provenance, response schema metadata, raw payload, and run
+metadata. The final contract should continue evolving from that raw-output
+shape.

 Additional fields needed for the full validator system include:

--- a/internal/cli/catalog.go
+++ b/internal/cli/catalog.go
@@ -20,13 +20,14 @@ import (

 func productionRegistries() (pipeline.Registries, error) {
 	registries := pipeline.Registries{
-		Inputs:      pipeline.NewInputAdapterRegistry(),
-		Chunkers:    pipeline.NewChunkerRegistry(),
-		Extractors:  pipeline.NewExtractorRegistry(),
-		Mergers:     pipeline.NewMergerRegistry(),
-		Normalizers: pipeline.NewNormalizerRegistry(),
-		Validators:  pipeline.NewValidatorRegistry(),
-		Outputs:     pipeline.NewOutputEncoderRegistry(),
+		Inputs:          pipeline.NewInputAdapterRegistry(),
+		Chunkers:        pipeline.NewChunkerRegistry(),
+		Extractors:      pipeline.NewExtractorRegistry(),
+		Mergers:         pipeline.NewMergerRegistry(),
+		Normalizers:     pipeline.NewNormalizerRegistry(),
+		Validators:      pipeline.NewValidatorRegistry(),
+		ValidatorChains: pipeline.NewValidatorChainRegistry(),
+		Outputs:         pipeline.NewOutputEncoderRegistry(),
 	}
 	if err := seriatim.Register(registries.Inputs); err != nil {
 		return pipeline.Registries{}, fmt.Errorf("register seriatim input: %w", err)
@@ -93,25 +94,27 @@ func effectiveRegistries(opts Options) (pipeline.Registries, error) {

 func catalogFromRegistries(registries pipeline.Registries) pipeline.ModuleCatalog {
 	return pipeline.ModuleCatalog{
-		Inputs:      registries.Inputs,
-		Chunkers:    registries.Chunkers,
-		Extractors:  registries.Extractors,
-		Mergers:     registries.Mergers,
-		Normalizers: registries.Normalizers,
-		Validators:  registries.Validators,
-		Outputs:     registries.Outputs,
+		Inputs:          registries.Inputs,
+		Chunkers:        registries.Chunkers,
+		Extractors:      registries.Extractors,
+		Mergers:         registries.Mergers,
+		Normalizers:     registries.Normalizers,
+		Validators:      registries.Validators,
+		ValidatorChains: registries.ValidatorChains,
+		Outputs:         registries.Outputs,
 	}
 }

 func registriesFromCatalog(catalog pipeline.ModuleCatalog) pipeline.Registries {
 	return pipeline.Registries{
-		Inputs:      catalog.Inputs,
-		Chunkers:    catalog.Chunkers,
-		Extractors:  catalog.Extractors,
-		Mergers:     catalog.Mergers,
-		Normalizers: catalog.Normalizers,
-		Validators:  catalog.Validators,
-		Outputs:     catalog.Outputs,
+		Inputs:          catalog.Inputs,
+		Chunkers:        catalog.Chunkers,
+		Extractors:      catalog.Extractors,
+		Mergers:         catalog.Mergers,
+		Normalizers:     catalog.Normalizers,
+		Validators:      catalog.Validators,
+		ValidatorChains: catalog.ValidatorChains,
+		Outputs:         catalog.Outputs,
 	}
 }

@@ -122,6 +125,7 @@ func isEmptyCatalog(catalog pipeline.ModuleCatalog) bool {
 		catalog.Mergers == nil &&
 		catalog.Normalizers == nil &&
 		catalog.Validators == nil &&
+		catalog.ValidatorChains == nil &&
 		catalog.Outputs == nil
 }

@@ -132,6 +136,7 @@ func isEmptyRegistries(registries pipeline.Registries) bool {
 		registries.Mergers == nil &&
 		registries.Normalizers == nil &&
 		registries.Validators == nil &&
+		registries.ValidatorChains == nil &&
 		registries.Outputs == nil
 }

--- a/internal/cli/run_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/run_test.go
@@ -2931,13 +2931,14 @@ func fakeCatalog(t *testing.T, overrides ...pipeline.ModuleSpec) pipeline.Module
 	mustRegisterOutput(t, outputs, specs["json"])

 	return pipeline.ModuleCatalog{
-		Inputs:      inputs,
-		Chunkers:    chunkers,
-		Extractors:  extractors,
-		Mergers:     mergers,
-		Normalizers: normalizers,
-		Validators:  validators,
-		Outputs:     outputs,
+		Inputs:          inputs,
+		Chunkers:        chunkers,
+		Extractors:      extractors,
+		Mergers:         mergers,
+		Normalizers:     normalizers,
+		Validators:      validators,
+		ValidatorChains: pipeline.NewValidatorChainRegistry(),
+		Outputs:         outputs,
 	}
 }

--- a/internal/core/artifacts/artifacts.go
+++ b/internal/core/artifacts/artifacts.go
@@ -38,10 +38,21 @@ type ArtifactLaneManifest struct {
 	Extractor  string         `json:"extractor"`
 	Merger     string         `json:"merger"`
 	Normalizer string         `json:"normalizer"`
-	Validators []string       `json:"validators,omitempty"`
 	Metadata   map[string]any `json:"metadata,omitempty"`
 }

+type ValidatorChainManifest struct {
+	Stage      string              `json:"stage"`
+	LaneID     string              `json:"lane_id,omitempty"`
+	ModuleKey  string              `json:"module_key"`
+	Validators []ValidatorManifest `json:"validators"`
+}
+
+type ValidatorManifest struct {
+	Key            string `json:"key"`
+	ExecutionClass string `json:"execution_class"`
+}
+
 type LLMProfileManifest struct {
 	ID       string `json:"id"`
 	Provider string `json:"provider,omitempty"`
@@ -100,6 +111,7 @@ type RunManifest struct {
 	OutputEncoder     string                     `json:"output_encoder,omitempty"`
 	ModuleMetadata    map[string]map[string]any  `json:"module_metadata,omitempty"`
 	ArtifactLanes     []ArtifactLaneManifest     `json:"artifact_lanes,omitempty"`
+	ValidatorChains   []ValidatorChainManifest   `json:"validator_chains,omitempty"`
 	References        []ReferenceProvenance      `json:"references,omitempty"`
 	NormalizedOutputs []NormalizedOutputManifest `json:"normalized_outputs,omitempty"`
 	RejectedOutputs   []RejectedOutputManifest   `json:"rejected_outputs,omitempty"`
--- a/internal/core/artifacts/artifacts_test.go
+++ b/internal/core/artifacts/artifacts_test.go
@@ -136,12 +136,21 @@ func TestRunManifestIncludesPipelineAndArtifactLaneFields(t *testing.T) {
 				Extractor:  "event-extractor",
 				Merger:     "appendorder",
 				Normalizer: "noop",
-				Validators: []string{"grounded"},
 				Metadata: map[string]any{
 					"extractor": map[string]any{"prompt_id": "test.prompt"},
 				},
 			},
 		},
+		ValidatorChains: []ValidatorChainManifest{
+			{
+				Stage:     "extract",
+				LaneID:    "events",
+				ModuleKey: "event-extractor",
+				Validators: []ValidatorManifest{
+					{Key: "grounded", ExecutionClass: "deterministic"},
+				},
+			},
+		},
 	}

 	gotJSON, err := json.Marshal(manifest)
@@ -154,7 +163,7 @@ func TestRunManifestIncludesPipelineAndArtifactLaneFields(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("json.Unmarshal() error = %v", err)
 	}

-	assertHasKeys(t, got, "pipeline_id", "pipeline_digest", "artifact_lanes", "llm_profiles")
+	assertHasKeys(t, got, "pipeline_id", "pipeline_digest", "artifact_lanes", "validator_chains", "llm_profiles")

 	profiles, ok := got["llm_profiles"].([]any)
 	if !ok {
@@ -180,7 +189,20 @@ func TestRunManifestIncludesPipelineAndArtifactLaneFields(t *testing.T) {
 	if !ok {
 		t.Fatalf("artifact_lanes[0] = %#v, want object", lanes[0])
 	}
-	assertHasKeys(t, lane, "id", "extractor", "merger", "normalizer", "validators", "metadata")
+	assertHasKeys(t, lane, "id", "extractor", "merger", "normalizer", "metadata")
+
+	chains, ok := got["validator_chains"].([]any)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("validator_chains = %#v, want array", got["validator_chains"])
+	}
+	if len(chains) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("len(validator_chains) = %d, want 1", len(chains))
+	}
+	chain, ok := chains[0].(map[string]any)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("validator_chains[0] = %#v, want object", chains[0])
+	}
+	assertHasKeys(t, chain, "stage", "lane_id", "module_key", "validators")
 }

 func TestRunManifestIncludesReferenceProvenance(t *testing.T) {
--- a/internal/core/config/validation_test.go
+++ b/internal/core/config/validation_test.go
@@ -429,13 +429,14 @@ func fakeCatalog(t *testing.T, overrides ...pipeline.ModuleSpec) pipeline.Module
 	mustRegisterOutput(t, outputs, specs["json"])

 	return pipeline.ModuleCatalog{
-		Inputs:      inputs,
-		Chunkers:    chunkers,
-		Extractors:  extractors,
-		Mergers:     mergers,
-		Normalizers: normalizers,
-		Validators:  validators,
-		Outputs:     outputs,
+		Inputs:          inputs,
+		Chunkers:        chunkers,
+		Extractors:      extractors,
+		Mergers:         mergers,
+		Normalizers:     normalizers,
+		Validators:      validators,
+		ValidatorChains: pipeline.NewValidatorChainRegistry(),
+		Outputs:         outputs,
 	}
 }

@@ -476,7 +477,8 @@ func mustRegisterNormalizer(t *testing.T, registry *pipeline.NormalizerRegistry,

 func mustRegisterValidator(t *testing.T, registry *pipeline.ValidatorRegistry, spec pipeline.ModuleSpec) {
 	t.Helper()
-	if err := registry.RegisterWithSpec(spec, func() (contracts.Validator, error) { return nil, nil }); err != nil {
+	validatorSpec := pipeline.ValidatorSpec{Key: spec.Key, ExecutionClass: contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic}
+	if err := registry.RegisterWithSpec(validatorSpec, func() (contracts.Validator, error) { return nil, nil }); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("register validator: %v", err)
 	}
 }
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/default_modules_test.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/default_modules_test.go
@@ -92,12 +92,13 @@ func defaultModuleCatalog(t *testing.T) pipeline.ModuleCatalog {
 	}

 	return pipeline.ModuleCatalog{
-		Inputs:      inputs,
-		Chunkers:    chunkers,
-		Extractors:  extractors,
-		Mergers:     mergers,
-		Normalizers: normalizers,
-		Outputs:     outputs,
+		Inputs:          inputs,
+		Chunkers:        chunkers,
+		Extractors:      extractors,
+		Mergers:         mergers,
+		Normalizers:     normalizers,
+		ValidatorChains: pipeline.NewValidatorChainRegistry(),
+		Outputs:         outputs,
 	}
 }

--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/profile.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/profile.go
@@ -83,6 +83,18 @@ type ResolvedArtifactLane struct {
 	NormalizeReferences ResolvedReferenceTarget `json:"normalize_references"`
 }

+type ResolvedValidatorChain struct {
+	Stage      ModuleStage         `json:"stage"`
+	LaneID     string              `json:"lane_id,omitempty"`
+	ModuleKey  string              `json:"module_key"`
+	Validators []ResolvedValidator `json:"validators"`
+}
+
+type ResolvedValidator struct {
+	Binding        ModuleBinding            `json:"binding"`
+	ExecutionClass contracts.ExecutionClass `json:"execution_class"`
+}
+
 type ResolvedPipeline struct {
 	ID              string
 	Digest          string
@@ -90,17 +102,19 @@ type ResolvedPipeline struct {
 	Chunk           ModuleBinding
 	ChunkReferences ResolvedReferenceTarget `json:"chunk_references"`
 	ArtifactLanes   []ResolvedArtifactLane
+	ValidatorChains []ResolvedValidatorChain `json:"validator_chains"`
 	Output          ModuleBinding
 }

 type ModuleCatalog struct {
-	Inputs      *InputAdapterRegistry
-	Chunkers    *ChunkerRegistry
-	Extractors  *ExtractorRegistry
-	Mergers     *MergerRegistry
-	Normalizers *NormalizerRegistry
-	Validators  *ValidatorRegistry
-	Outputs     *OutputEncoderRegistry
+	Inputs          *InputAdapterRegistry
+	Chunkers        *ChunkerRegistry
+	Extractors      *ExtractorRegistry
+	Mergers         *MergerRegistry
+	Normalizers     *NormalizerRegistry
+	Validators      *ValidatorRegistry
+	ValidatorChains *ValidatorChainRegistry
+	Outputs         *OutputEncoderRegistry
 }

 func Binding(module string) ModuleBinding {
@@ -172,15 +186,21 @@ func ResolvePipeline(profile PipelineProfile, options ResolveOptions, catalog Mo
 		ChunkReferences: referenceTarget(StageChunk, "", chunk.Module, chunkReferences),
 		Output:          resolveBinding(profile.Output, DefaultOutputModule),
 	}
+	chunkValidatorChain, err := resolveValidatorChain(pipelineID, "", StageChunk, chunk.Module, catalog)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ResolvedPipeline{}, err
+	}
+	resolved.ValidatorChains = append(resolved.ValidatorChains, chunkValidatorChain)
 	outputCapabilities := capabilities.clone()

 	for _, laneID := range selectedLaneIDs {
 		laneProfile := lanesByID[laneID]
-		lane, laneCapabilities, err := resolveArtifactLane(pipelineID, laneID, laneProfile, profile.References, options, capabilities, catalog)
+		lane, validatorChains, laneCapabilities, err := resolveArtifactLane(pipelineID, laneID, laneProfile, profile.References, options, capabilities, catalog)
 		if err != nil {
 			return ResolvedPipeline{}, err
 		}
 		resolved.ArtifactLanes = append(resolved.ArtifactLanes, lane)
+		resolved.ValidatorChains = append(resolved.ValidatorChains, validatorChains...)
 		outputCapabilities.addSet(laneCapabilities)
 	}

@@ -208,7 +228,7 @@ func resolveArtifactLane(
 	options ResolveOptions,
 	inherited capabilitySet,
 	catalog ModuleCatalog,
-) (ResolvedArtifactLane, capabilitySet, error) {
+) (ResolvedArtifactLane, []ResolvedValidatorChain, capabilitySet, error) {
 	lane := ResolvedArtifactLane{
 		ID:         laneID,
 		Extract:    resolveBinding(profile.Extract, ""),
@@ -217,17 +237,17 @@ func resolveArtifactLane(
 		Validators: resolveBindings(profile.Validators, ""),
 	}
 	if lane.Extract.Module == "" {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, fmt.Errorf("pipeline %q lane %q extract module must not be empty", pipelineID, laneID)
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("pipeline %q lane %q extract module must not be empty", pipelineID, laneID)
 	}

 	capabilities := inherited.clone()

 	extractSpec, err := extractorSpec(catalog, lane.Extract.Module)
 	if err != nil {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, moduleLookupError(pipelineID, laneID, StageExtract, lane.Extract.Module, err)
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, moduleLookupError(pipelineID, laneID, StageExtract, lane.Extract.Module, err)
 	}
 	if missing, ok := capabilities.missing(extractSpec.Requires); ok {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, capabilityError(pipelineID, laneID, StageExtract, lane.Extract.Module, missing)
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, capabilityError(pipelineID, laneID, StageExtract, lane.Extract.Module, missing)
 	}
 	extractReferences := mergeReferenceMaps(profile.References, lane.Extract.References)
 	references, err := resolveReferenceTargetBindings(referenceResolutionTarget{
@@ -241,17 +261,17 @@ func resolveArtifactLane(
 		Options:            options,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, err
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, err
 	}
 	lane.ExtractReferences = referenceTarget(StageExtract, laneID, lane.Extract.Module, references)
 	capabilities.add(extractSpec.Provides...)

 	mergeSpec, err := mergerSpec(catalog, lane.Merge.Module)
 	if err != nil {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, moduleLookupError(pipelineID, laneID, StageMerge, lane.Merge.Module, err)
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, moduleLookupError(pipelineID, laneID, StageMerge, lane.Merge.Module, err)
 	}
 	if missing, ok := capabilities.missing(mergeSpec.Requires); ok {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, capabilityError(pipelineID, laneID, StageMerge, lane.Merge.Module, missing)
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, capabilityError(pipelineID, laneID, StageMerge, lane.Merge.Module, missing)
 	}
 	mergeReferences, err := resolveReferenceTargetBindings(referenceResolutionTarget{
 		PipelineID:         pipelineID,
@@ -264,17 +284,17 @@ func resolveArtifactLane(
 		Options:            options,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, err
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, err
 	}
 	lane.MergeReferences = referenceTarget(StageMerge, laneID, lane.Merge.Module, mergeReferences)
 	capabilities.add(mergeSpec.Provides...)

 	normalizeSpec, err := normalizerSpec(catalog, lane.Normalize.Module)
 	if err != nil {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, moduleLookupError(pipelineID, laneID, StageNormalize, lane.Normalize.Module, err)
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, moduleLookupError(pipelineID, laneID, StageNormalize, lane.Normalize.Module, err)
 	}
 	if missing, ok := capabilities.missing(normalizeSpec.Requires); ok {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, capabilityError(pipelineID, laneID, StageNormalize, lane.Normalize.Module, missing)
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, capabilityError(pipelineID, laneID, StageNormalize, lane.Normalize.Module, missing)
 	}
 	normalizeReferences, err := resolveReferenceTargetBindings(referenceResolutionTarget{
 		PipelineID:         pipelineID,
@@ -287,22 +307,105 @@ func resolveArtifactLane(
 		Options:            options,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, err
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, err
 	}
 	lane.NormalizeReferences = referenceTarget(StageNormalize, laneID, lane.Normalize.Module, normalizeReferences)
 	capabilities.add(normalizeSpec.Provides...)

 	if len(lane.Validators) > 0 {
-		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, configuredValidatorsError(pipelineID, laneID)
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, configuredValidatorsError(pipelineID, laneID)
 	}

-	return lane, capabilities, nil
+	extractValidatorChain, err := resolveValidatorChain(pipelineID, laneID, StageExtract, lane.Extract.Module, catalog)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, err
+	}
+	mergeValidatorChain, err := resolveValidatorChain(pipelineID, laneID, StageMerge, lane.Merge.Module, catalog)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, err
+	}
+	normalizeValidatorChain, err := resolveValidatorChain(pipelineID, laneID, StageNormalize, lane.Normalize.Module, catalog)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ResolvedArtifactLane{}, nil, nil, err
+	}
+	validatorChains := []ResolvedValidatorChain{extractValidatorChain, mergeValidatorChain, normalizeValidatorChain}
+
+	return lane, validatorChains, capabilities, nil
 }

 func configuredValidatorsError(pipelineID string, laneID string) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf("pipeline %q lane %q configured validators are not supported by the current raw validation runner", pipelineID, laneID)
 }

+func resolveValidatorChain(pipelineID string, laneID string, stage ModuleStage, module string, catalog ModuleCatalog) (ResolvedValidatorChain, error) {
+	chain := ResolvedValidatorChain{
+		Stage:     stage,
+		LaneID:    strings.TrimSpace(laneID),
+		ModuleKey: strings.TrimSpace(module),
+	}
+	if chain.ModuleKey == "" {
+		return ResolvedValidatorChain{}, fmt.Errorf("pipeline %q validator chain %q module key must not be empty", pipelineID, stage)
+	}
+	switch stage {
+	case StageChunk, StageExtract, StageMerge, StageNormalize:
+	default:
+		return ResolvedValidatorChain{}, fmt.Errorf("pipeline %q validator chain stage %q is not supported", pipelineID, stage)
+	}
+
+	if catalog.ValidatorChains == nil {
+		return chain, nil
+	}
+	bindings := catalog.ValidatorChains.Validators(stage, chain.ModuleKey)
+	if len(bindings) == 0 {
+		return chain, nil
+	}
+	if catalog.Validators == nil {
+		return ResolvedValidatorChain{}, fmt.Errorf("pipeline %q validator registry must not be nil for %s validator chain on module %q", pipelineID, stage, chain.ModuleKey)
+	}
+	chain.Validators = make([]ResolvedValidator, 0, len(bindings))
+	for _, validator := range bindings {
+		spec, ok := catalog.Validators.Spec(validator.Module)
+		if !ok {
+			return ResolvedValidatorChain{}, fmt.Errorf("pipeline %q %s validator chain for module %q references unknown validator %q", pipelineID, stage, chain.ModuleKey, validator.Module)
+		}
+		chain.Validators = append(chain.Validators, ResolvedValidator{
+			Binding:        cloneModuleBinding(validator),
+			ExecutionClass: spec.ExecutionClass,
+		})
+	}
+	return chain, nil
+}
+
+func cloneResolvedValidatorChains(chains []ResolvedValidatorChain) []ResolvedValidatorChain {
+	if len(chains) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]ResolvedValidatorChain, len(chains))
+	for i, chain := range chains {
+		out[i] = ResolvedValidatorChain{
+			Stage:      chain.Stage,
+			LaneID:     strings.TrimSpace(chain.LaneID),
+			ModuleKey:  strings.TrimSpace(chain.ModuleKey),
+			Validators: cloneResolvedValidators(chain.Validators),
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func cloneResolvedValidators(validators []ResolvedValidator) []ResolvedValidator {
+	if len(validators) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]ResolvedValidator, len(validators))
+	for i, validator := range validators {
+		out[i] = ResolvedValidator{
+			Binding:        cloneModuleBinding(validator.Binding),
+			ExecutionClass: validator.ExecutionClass,
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 func referenceTarget(stage ModuleStage, laneID string, module string, bindings []ReferenceBinding) ResolvedReferenceTarget {
 	return ResolvedReferenceTarget{
 		Stage:    stage,
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/profile_test.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/profile_test.go
@@ -110,6 +110,78 @@ func TestResolvePipelineAppliesDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

+func TestResolvePipelineRecordsValidatorChains(t *testing.T) {
+	catalog := newProfileCatalog(t)
+	if err := catalog.ValidatorChains.Register(ValidatorChainMapping{
+		Stage:      StageExtract,
+		Module:     "event-extractor",
+		Validators: []ModuleBinding{Binding("grounded")},
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("register validator chain: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	resolved, err := ResolvePipeline(PipelineProfile{
+		ID:    "validated",
+		Input: Binding("text"),
+		Artifacts: map[string]ArtifactLaneProfile{
+			"events": {Extract: Binding("event-extractor")},
+		},
+	}, ResolveOptions{}, catalog)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ResolvePipeline() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+
+	if len(resolved.ValidatorChains) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("len(ValidatorChains) = %d, want chunk plus lane extract/merge/normalize", len(resolved.ValidatorChains))
+	}
+	extractChain := findResolvedValidatorChain(resolved.ValidatorChains, StageExtract, "events", "event-extractor")
+	if extractChain == nil {
+		t.Fatal("extract validator chain not found")
+	}
+	if len(extractChain.Validators) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("extract validators = %#v, want one validator", extractChain.Validators)
+	}
+	if extractChain.Validators[0].Binding.Module != "grounded" {
+		t.Fatalf("extract validator key = %q, want grounded", extractChain.Validators[0].Binding.Module)
+	}
+	if extractChain.Validators[0].ExecutionClass != contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic {
+		t.Fatalf("extract validator execution class = %q, want deterministic", extractChain.Validators[0].ExecutionClass)
+	}
+
+	chunkChain := findResolvedValidatorChain(resolved.ValidatorChains, StageChunk, "", DefaultChunkModule)
+	if chunkChain == nil {
+		t.Fatal("chunk validator chain not found")
+	}
+	if len(chunkChain.Validators) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("chunk validators = %#v, want explicit empty chain", chunkChain.Validators)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResolvePipelineRejectsUnknownDefaultValidator(t *testing.T) {
+	catalog := newProfileCatalog(t)
+	if err := catalog.ValidatorChains.Register(ValidatorChainMapping{
+		Stage:      StageNormalize,
+		Module:     DefaultNormalizeModule,
+		Validators: []ModuleBinding{Binding("missing-validator")},
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("register validator chain: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err := ResolvePipeline(PipelineProfile{
+		ID:    "invalid-chain",
+		Input: Binding("text"),
+		Artifacts: map[string]ArtifactLaneProfile{
+			"events": {Extract: Binding("event-extractor")},
+		},
+	}, ResolveOptions{}, catalog)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("ResolvePipeline() error = nil, want unknown validator error")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "missing-validator") {
+		t.Fatalf("ResolvePipeline() error = %q, want missing validator context", err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
 func TestResolvePipelineSelectsOnlyRequestedLanes(t *testing.T) {
 	profile := multiLaneProfile()
 	resolved, err := ResolvePipeline(profile, ResolveOptions{Only: []string{" summaries ", "events", "summaries"}}, newProfileCatalog(t))
@@ -955,6 +1027,15 @@ func assertBindingSource(t *testing.T, bindings []ReferenceBinding, slotName str
 	t.Fatalf("binding %q not found in %#v", slotName, bindings)
 }

+func findResolvedValidatorChain(chains []ResolvedValidatorChain, stage ModuleStage, laneID string, module string) *ResolvedValidatorChain {
+	for i := range chains {
+		if chains[i].Stage == stage && chains[i].LaneID == laneID && chains[i].ModuleKey == module {
+			return &chains[i]
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func newProfileCatalog(t *testing.T) ModuleCatalog {
 	t.Helper()

@@ -994,13 +1075,14 @@ func newProfileCatalogWithOverrides(t *testing.T, overrides ...ModuleSpec) Modul

 func emptyProfileCatalog() ModuleCatalog {
 	return ModuleCatalog{
-		Inputs:      NewInputAdapterRegistry(),
-		Chunkers:    NewChunkerRegistry(),
-		Extractors:  NewExtractorRegistry(),
-		Mergers:     NewMergerRegistry(),
-		Normalizers: NewNormalizerRegistry(),
-		Validators:  NewValidatorRegistry(),
-		Outputs:     NewOutputEncoderRegistry(),
+		Inputs:          NewInputAdapterRegistry(),
+		Chunkers:        NewChunkerRegistry(),
+		Extractors:      NewExtractorRegistry(),
+		Mergers:         NewMergerRegistry(),
+		Normalizers:     NewNormalizerRegistry(),
+		Validators:      NewValidatorRegistry(),
+		ValidatorChains: NewValidatorChainRegistry(),
+		Outputs:         NewOutputEncoderRegistry(),
 	}
 }

@@ -1043,7 +1125,8 @@ func registerProfileSpecs(t *testing.T, catalog ModuleCatalog, specs ...ModuleSp
 				t.Fatalf("register normalizer spec %#v: %v", spec, err)
 			}
 		case StageValidate:
-			if err := catalog.Validators.RegisterWithSpec(spec, profileValidatorConstructor(spec.Key)); err != nil {
+			validatorSpec := ValidatorSpec{Key: spec.Key, ExecutionClass: contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic}
+			if err := catalog.Validators.RegisterWithSpec(validatorSpec, profileValidatorConstructor(spec.Key)); err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("register validator spec %#v: %v", spec, err)
 			}
 		case StageOutput:
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/raw_validation_registry.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/raw_validation_registry.go
@@ -1,78 +0,0 @@
-package pipeline
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"strings"
-
-	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/framework/contracts"
-)
-
-type rawValidationKey struct {
-	stage  ModuleStage
-	module string
-}
-
-type RawValidationRegistry struct {
-	chains map[rawValidationKey][]contracts.Validator
-}
-
-func NewRawValidationRegistry() *RawValidationRegistry {
-	return &RawValidationRegistry{
-		chains: make(map[rawValidationKey][]contracts.Validator),
-	}
-}
-
-func (r *RawValidationRegistry) Register(stage ModuleStage, module string, validators ...contracts.Validator) error {
-	if r == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("raw validation registry must not be nil")
-	}
-	normalizedModule := strings.TrimSpace(module)
-	if normalizedModule == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("raw validation module key must not be empty")
-	}
-	switch stage {
-	case StageChunk, StageExtract, StageMerge, StageNormalize:
-	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("raw validation stage %q is not supported", stage)
-	}
-	if len(validators) == 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("raw validation chain for %q %q must not be empty", stage, normalizedModule)
-	}
-
-	chain := make([]contracts.Validator, 0, len(validators))
-	for i, validator := range validators {
-		if validator == nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("raw validator %d for %q %q must not be nil", i, stage, normalizedModule)
-		}
-		if strings.TrimSpace(validator.Name()) == "" {
-			return fmt.Errorf("raw validator %d for %q %q must not have an empty name", i, stage, normalizedModule)
-		}
-		switch validator.ExecutionClass() {
-		case contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic, contracts.ExecutionClassLLMBacked:
-		default:
-			return fmt.Errorf("raw validator %q for %q %q has unsupported execution class %q", validator.Name(), stage, normalizedModule, validator.ExecutionClass())
-		}
-		chain = append(chain, validator)
-	}
-
-	if r.chains == nil {
-		r.chains = make(map[rawValidationKey][]contracts.Validator)
-	}
-	key := rawValidationKey{stage: stage, module: normalizedModule}
-	if _, exists := r.chains[key]; exists {
-		return fmt.Errorf("raw validation chain for %q %q is already registered", stage, normalizedModule)
-	}
-	r.chains[key] = append([]contracts.Validator(nil), chain...)
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (r *RawValidationRegistry) Validators(stage ModuleStage, module string) []contracts.Validator {
-	if r == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	chain := r.chains[rawValidationKey{stage: stage, module: strings.TrimSpace(module)}]
-	if len(chain) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return append([]contracts.Validator(nil), chain...)
-}
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/runner.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/runner.go
@@ -18,14 +18,14 @@ import (
 )

 type Registries struct {
-	Inputs        *InputAdapterRegistry
-	Chunkers      *ChunkerRegistry
-	Extractors    *ExtractorRegistry
-	Mergers       *MergerRegistry
-	Normalizers   *NormalizerRegistry
-	Validators    *ValidatorRegistry
-	RawValidators *RawValidationRegistry
-	Outputs       *OutputEncoderRegistry
+	Inputs          *InputAdapterRegistry
+	Chunkers        *ChunkerRegistry
+	Extractors      *ExtractorRegistry
+	Mergers         *MergerRegistry
+	Normalizers     *NormalizerRegistry
+	Validators      *ValidatorRegistry
+	ValidatorChains *ValidatorChainRegistry
+	Outputs         *OutputEncoderRegistry
 }

 type Runner struct {
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func (r *Runner) Run(ctx context.Context, input RunInput) (output RunOutput, err
 		if err != nil {
 			return false, nil, fmt.Errorf("validate chunks from chunker %q: %w", chunker.Key(), err)
 		}
-		rejection, err := r.validateChunksRaw(ctx, doc, chunker.Key(), chunks, input.Metadata, attempt)
+		rejection, err := r.validateChunksRaw(ctx, doc, chunker.Key(), chunks, input.Metadata, input.Pipeline.ValidatorChains, attempt)
 		if err != nil || rejection != nil {
 			return false, rejection, err
 		}
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ func (r *Runner) runLane(ctx context.Context, input RunInput, doc *source.Source
 				schema:     extractOutput.Schema,
 				payload:    extractOutput.Payload,
 				metadata:   input.Metadata,
+				chains:     input.Pipeline.ValidatorChains,
 				attempt:    attempt,
 			})
 			if err != nil || rejection != nil {
@@ -296,6 +297,7 @@ func (r *Runner) runLane(ctx context.Context, input RunInput, doc *source.Source
 			schema:    mergeOutput.Schema,
 			payload:   mergeOutput.Payload,
 			metadata:  input.Metadata,
+			chains:    input.Pipeline.ValidatorChains,
 			attempt:   attempt,
 		})
 		if err != nil || rejection != nil {
@@ -346,6 +348,7 @@ func (r *Runner) runLane(ctx context.Context, input RunInput, doc *source.Source
 			schema:    normalizeOutput.Schema,
 			payload:   normalizeOutput.Payload,
 			metadata:  input.Metadata,
+			chains:    input.Pipeline.ValidatorChains,
 			attempt:   attempt,
 		})
 		if err != nil || rejection != nil {
@@ -378,6 +381,7 @@ type rawValidationTarget struct {
 	schema     contracts.ResponseSchema
 	payload    contracts.RawPayload
 	metadata   map[string]any
+	chains     []ResolvedValidatorChain
 	attempt    int
 }

@@ -428,7 +432,7 @@ func runWithRetry(ctx context.Context, retries int, run func(attempt int) (bool,
 	return false, lastRejection, nil
 }

-func (r *Runner) validateChunksRaw(ctx context.Context, doc *source.SourceDocument, moduleKey string, chunks []contracts.SourceChunk, metadata map[string]any, attempt int) (*contracts.RejectedOutput, error) {
+func (r *Runner) validateChunksRaw(ctx context.Context, doc *source.SourceDocument, moduleKey string, chunks []contracts.SourceChunk, metadata map[string]any, chains []ResolvedValidatorChain, attempt int) (*contracts.RejectedOutput, error) {
 	for _, chunk := range chunks {
 		_, rejection, err := r.validateRaw(ctx, rawValidationTarget{
 			stage:      StageChunk,
@@ -443,6 +447,7 @@ func (r *Runner) validateChunksRaw(ctx context.Context, doc *source.SourceDocume
 				Metadata:  cloneMetadata(chunk.Metadata),
 			},
 			metadata: metadata,
+			chains:   chains,
 			attempt:  attempt,
 		})
 		if err != nil {
@@ -456,10 +461,16 @@ func (r *Runner) validateChunksRaw(ctx context.Context, doc *source.SourceDocume
 }

 func (r *Runner) validateRaw(ctx context.Context, target rawValidationTarget) ([]contracts.Warning, *contracts.RejectedOutput, error) {
-	validators := r.registries.RawValidators.Validators(target.stage, target.moduleKey)
-	if len(validators) == 0 {
+	chain := resolvedValidatorChain(target.stage, target.laneID, target.moduleKey, target.chains)
+	if len(chain.Validators) == 0 {
+		chain = r.registryValidatorChain(target.stage, target.laneID, target.moduleKey)
+	}
+	if len(chain.Validators) == 0 {
 		return nil, nil, nil
 	}
+	if r.registries.Validators == nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("validator registry must not be nil")
+	}

 	request := contracts.ValidationRequest{
 		Stage:      string(target.stage),
@@ -475,7 +486,11 @@ func (r *Runner) validateRaw(ctx context.Context, target rawValidationTarget) ([
 	}

 	var warnings []contracts.Warning
-	for _, validator := range validators {
+	for _, validatorBinding := range chain.Validators {
+		validator, err := r.registries.Validators.Build(validatorBinding.Binding.Module)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("build validator %q: %w", validatorBinding.Binding.Module, err)
+		}
 		result, err := validator.Validate(ctx, request)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("validate raw %s output with validator %q: %w", target.stage, validator.Name(), err)
@@ -507,6 +522,60 @@ func (r *Runner) validateRaw(ctx context.Context, target rawValidationTarget) ([
 	return warnings, nil, nil
 }

+func (r *Runner) registryValidatorChain(stage ModuleStage, laneID string, moduleKey string) ResolvedValidatorChain {
+	chain := ResolvedValidatorChain{
+		Stage:     stage,
+		LaneID:    strings.TrimSpace(laneID),
+		ModuleKey: strings.TrimSpace(moduleKey),
+	}
+	if r == nil || r.registries.ValidatorChains == nil {
+		return chain
+	}
+	bindings := r.registries.ValidatorChains.Validators(stage, moduleKey)
+	if len(bindings) == 0 {
+		return chain
+	}
+	chain.Validators = make([]ResolvedValidator, 0, len(bindings))
+	for _, binding := range bindings {
+		executionClass := contracts.ExecutionClass("")
+		if r.registries.Validators != nil {
+			if spec, ok := r.registries.Validators.Spec(binding.Module); ok {
+				executionClass = spec.ExecutionClass
+			}
+		}
+		chain.Validators = append(chain.Validators, ResolvedValidator{
+			Binding:        cloneModuleBinding(binding),
+			ExecutionClass: executionClass,
+		})
+	}
+	return chain
+}
+
+func resolvedValidatorChain(stage ModuleStage, laneID string, moduleKey string, chains []ResolvedValidatorChain) ResolvedValidatorChain {
+	for _, chain := range chains {
+		if chain.Stage != stage {
+			continue
+		}
+		if chain.ModuleKey != moduleKey {
+			continue
+		}
+		if strings.TrimSpace(chain.LaneID) != strings.TrimSpace(laneID) {
+			continue
+		}
+		return ResolvedValidatorChain{
+			Stage:      chain.Stage,
+			LaneID:     chain.LaneID,
+			ModuleKey:  chain.ModuleKey,
+			Validators: cloneResolvedValidators(chain.Validators),
+		}
+	}
+	return ResolvedValidatorChain{
+		Stage:     stage,
+		LaneID:    strings.TrimSpace(laneID),
+		ModuleKey: strings.TrimSpace(moduleKey),
+	}
+}
+
 func (r *Runner) validateRegistries(pipeline ResolvedPipeline) error {
 	if r.registries.Inputs == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("input registry must not be nil")
@@ -580,16 +649,17 @@ func manifestFromPipeline(input RunInput) artifacts.RunManifest {

 	pipeline := input.Pipeline
 	manifest := artifacts.RunManifest{
-		PipelineID:     pipeline.ID,
-		PipelineDigest: pipeline.Digest,
-		InputModule:    pipeline.Input.Module,
-		Chunker:        pipeline.Chunk.Module,
-		OutputEncoder:  pipeline.Output.Module,
-		ArtifactLanes:  make([]artifacts.ArtifactLaneManifest, 0, len(pipeline.ArtifactLanes)),
-		RunID:          runID,
-		StartedAt:      timePtr(startedAt),
-		References:     ReferenceProvenance(pipeline),
-		LLMProfiles:    cloneLLMProfiles(input.LLMProfiles),
+		PipelineID:      pipeline.ID,
+		PipelineDigest:  pipeline.Digest,
+		InputModule:     pipeline.Input.Module,
+		Chunker:         pipeline.Chunk.Module,
+		OutputEncoder:   pipeline.Output.Module,
+		ArtifactLanes:   make([]artifacts.ArtifactLaneManifest, 0, len(pipeline.ArtifactLanes)),
+		ValidatorChains: validatorChainManifests(pipeline.ValidatorChains),
+		RunID:           runID,
+		StartedAt:       timePtr(startedAt),
+		References:      ReferenceProvenance(pipeline),
+		LLMProfiles:     cloneLLMProfiles(input.LLMProfiles),
 	}
 	// The runner does not currently maintain a cache or idempotency key. Reference
 	// digests are recorded in manifest provenance and intentionally kept separate
@@ -607,6 +677,29 @@ func manifestFromPipeline(input RunInput) artifacts.RunManifest {
 	return manifest
 }

+func validatorChainManifests(chains []ResolvedValidatorChain) []artifacts.ValidatorChainManifest {
+	if len(chains) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	manifests := make([]artifacts.ValidatorChainManifest, 0, len(chains))
+	for _, chain := range chains {
+		manifest := artifacts.ValidatorChainManifest{
+			Stage:      string(chain.Stage),
+			LaneID:     chain.LaneID,
+			ModuleKey:  chain.ModuleKey,
+			Validators: make([]artifacts.ValidatorManifest, 0, len(chain.Validators)),
+		}
+		for _, validator := range chain.Validators {
+			manifest.Validators = append(manifest.Validators, artifacts.ValidatorManifest{
+				Key:            validator.Binding.Module,
+				ExecutionClass: string(validator.ExecutionClass),
+			})
+		}
+		manifests = append(manifests, manifest)
+	}
+	return manifests
+}
+
 func failOutput(output RunOutput) RunOutput {
 	if output.Manifest.PipelineID != "" {
 		populateRawOutputManifest(&output)
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/runner_test.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/runner_test.go
@@ -887,8 +887,9 @@ func TestRunPassesChunkContentAndMediaTypeToExtractors(t *testing.T) {

 func TestRunOmitsRejectedExtractOutputsFromMerge(t *testing.T) {
 	modules := defaultRunnerModules()
-	validator := &runnerRawValidator{name: "raw-extract", approved: []bool{false, true}, reason: "bad_extract", message: "extract rejected"}
-	modules.rawValidators = rawValidationRegistry(t, StageExtract, "extract-alpha", validator)
+	validator := &runnerChainValidator{name: "chain-extract", approved: []bool{false, true}, reason: "bad_extract", message: "extract rejected"}
+	modules.validators[validator.name] = validator
+	modules.validatorChains = validatorChainRegistry(t, StageExtract, "extract-alpha", validator)

 	output, err := New(newRunnerRegistries(t, modules)).Run(context.Background(), RunInput{Pipeline: resolvedPipeline()})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -909,8 +910,9 @@ func TestRunOmitsRejectedExtractOutputsFromMerge(t *testing.T) {

 func TestRunOmitsLaneWithNoAcceptedExtractOutputs(t *testing.T) {
 	modules := defaultRunnerModules()
-	validator := &runnerRawValidator{name: "raw-extract", approved: []bool{false}, reason: "bad_extract", message: "extract rejected"}
-	modules.rawValidators = rawValidationRegistry(t, StageExtract, "extract-alpha", validator)
+	validator := &runnerChainValidator{name: "chain-extract", approved: []bool{false}, reason: "bad_extract", message: "extract rejected"}
+	modules.validators[validator.name] = validator
+	modules.validatorChains = validatorChainRegistry(t, StageExtract, "extract-alpha", validator)

 	output, err := New(newRunnerRegistries(t, modules)).Run(context.Background(), RunInput{Pipeline: resolvedPipeline()})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -933,8 +935,9 @@ func TestRunOmitsLaneWithNoAcceptedExtractOutputs(t *testing.T) {

 func TestRunRejectedMergePreventsNormalizeForLane(t *testing.T) {
 	modules := defaultRunnerModules()
-	validator := &runnerRawValidator{name: "raw-merge", approved: []bool{false}, reason: "bad_merge", message: "merge rejected"}
-	modules.rawValidators = rawValidationRegistry(t, StageMerge, "merge", validator)
+	validator := &runnerChainValidator{name: "chain-merge", approved: []bool{false}, reason: "bad_merge", message: "merge rejected"}
+	modules.validators[validator.name] = validator
+	modules.validatorChains = validatorChainRegistry(t, StageMerge, "merge", validator)

 	output, err := New(newRunnerRegistries(t, modules)).Run(context.Background(), RunInput{Pipeline: resolvedPipeline()})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -954,8 +957,9 @@ func TestRunRejectedMergePreventsNormalizeForLane(t *testing.T) {

 func TestRunRejectedNormalizePreventsOutputForLane(t *testing.T) {
 	modules := defaultRunnerModules()
-	validator := &runnerRawValidator{name: "raw-normalize", approved: []bool{false}, reason: "bad_normalize", message: "normalize rejected"}
-	modules.rawValidators = rawValidationRegistry(t, StageNormalize, "normalize", validator)
+	validator := &runnerChainValidator{name: "chain-normalize", approved: []bool{false}, reason: "bad_normalize", message: "normalize rejected"}
+	modules.validators[validator.name] = validator
+	modules.validatorChains = validatorChainRegistry(t, StageNormalize, "normalize", validator)

 	output, err := New(newRunnerRegistries(t, modules)).Run(context.Background(), RunInput{Pipeline: resolvedPipeline()})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -999,8 +1003,9 @@ func TestRunRetriesSameModuleInputAfterFrameworkError(t *testing.T) {

 func TestRunRetriesSameModuleInputAfterValidatorRejection(t *testing.T) {
 	modules := defaultRunnerModules()
-	validator := &runnerRawValidator{name: "raw-extract", approved: []bool{false, true, true}, reason: "bad_extract", message: "extract rejected"}
-	modules.rawValidators = rawValidationRegistry(t, StageExtract, "extract-alpha", validator)
+	validator := &runnerChainValidator{name: "chain-extract", approved: []bool{false, true, true}, reason: "bad_extract", message: "extract rejected"}
+	modules.validators[validator.name] = validator
+	modules.validatorChains = validatorChainRegistry(t, StageExtract, "extract-alpha", validator)
 	pipeline := resolvedPipeline()
 	pipeline.ArtifactLanes[0].Extract.Retries = 1

@@ -1023,8 +1028,9 @@ func TestRunRetriesSameModuleInputAfterValidatorRejection(t *testing.T) {

 func TestRunStopsRetryAfterConfiguredAttemptsAndRecordsAttemptCount(t *testing.T) {
 	modules := defaultRunnerModules()
-	validator := &runnerRawValidator{name: "raw-extract", approved: []bool{false}, reason: "bad_extract", message: "extract rejected"}
-	modules.rawValidators = rawValidationRegistry(t, StageExtract, "extract-alpha", validator)
+	validator := &runnerChainValidator{name: "chain-extract", approved: []bool{false}, reason: "bad_extract", message: "extract rejected"}
+	modules.validators[validator.name] = validator
+	modules.validatorChains = validatorChainRegistry(t, StageExtract, "extract-alpha", validator)
 	pipeline := resolvedPipeline()
 	pipeline.ArtifactLanes[0].Extract.Retries = 1

@@ -1312,8 +1318,11 @@ func TestRunManifestIncludesPipelineAndLaneDetails(t *testing.T) {
 	if lane.ID != "alpha" || lane.Extractor != "extract-alpha" || lane.Merger != "merge" || lane.Normalizer != "normalize" {
 		t.Fatalf("ArtifactLanes[0] = %#v, want lane details", lane)
 	}
-	if len(lane.Validators) != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("lane validators = %#v, want none", lane.Validators)
+	if len(manifest.ValidatorChains) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("ValidatorChains = %#v, want four validation points", manifest.ValidatorChains)
+	}
+	if manifest.ValidatorChains[0].Stage != string(StageChunk) || manifest.ValidatorChains[0].ModuleKey != "chunk" || len(manifest.ValidatorChains[0].Validators) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("chunk validator chain = %#v, want explicit empty chunk chain", manifest.ValidatorChains[0])
 	}
 }

@@ -1454,6 +1463,12 @@ func resolvedPipeline() ResolvedPipeline {
 				NormalizeReferences: referenceTarget(StageNormalize, "alpha", "normalize", nil),
 			},
 		},
+		ValidatorChains: []ResolvedValidatorChain{
+			{Stage: StageChunk, ModuleKey: "chunk"},
+			{Stage: StageExtract, LaneID: "alpha", ModuleKey: "extract-alpha"},
+			{Stage: StageMerge, LaneID: "alpha", ModuleKey: "merge"},
+			{Stage: StageNormalize, LaneID: "alpha", ModuleKey: "normalize"},
+		},
 		Output: Binding("output"),
 	}
 }
@@ -1493,8 +1508,8 @@ type runnerModules struct {
 	extractors      map[string]*runnerExtractor
 	mergers         map[string]*runnerMerger
 	normalizers     map[string]*runnerNormalizer
-	validators      map[string]*runnerValidator
-	rawValidators   *RawValidationRegistry
+	validators      map[string]contracts.Validator
+	validatorChains *ValidatorChainRegistry
 	output          *runnerOutputEncoder
 	inputBuildErr   error
 	chunkerBuildErr error
@@ -1513,9 +1528,9 @@ func defaultRunnerModules() *runnerModules {
 		normalizers: map[string]*runnerNormalizer{
 			"normalize": {key: "normalize"},
 		},
-		validators: map[string]*runnerValidator{
-			"configured":       {name: "configured"},
-			"second-validator": {name: "second-validator"},
+		validators: map[string]contracts.Validator{
+			"configured":       &runnerValidator{name: "configured"},
+			"second-validator": &runnerValidator{name: "second-validator"},
 		},
 		output: &runnerOutputEncoder{
 			key: "output",
@@ -1533,14 +1548,14 @@ func newRunnerRegistries(t *testing.T, modules *runnerModules) Registries {
 	}

 	registries := Registries{
-		Inputs:        NewInputAdapterRegistry(),
-		Chunkers:      NewChunkerRegistry(),
-		Extractors:    NewExtractorRegistry(),
-		Mergers:       NewMergerRegistry(),
-		Normalizers:   NewNormalizerRegistry(),
-		Validators:    NewValidatorRegistry(),
-		RawValidators: modules.rawValidators,
-		Outputs:       NewOutputEncoderRegistry(),
+		Inputs:          NewInputAdapterRegistry(),
+		Chunkers:        NewChunkerRegistry(),
+		Extractors:      NewExtractorRegistry(),
+		Mergers:         NewMergerRegistry(),
+		Normalizers:     NewNormalizerRegistry(),
+		Validators:      NewValidatorRegistry(),
+		ValidatorChains: modules.validatorChains,
+		Outputs:         NewOutputEncoderRegistry(),
 	}
 	if err := registries.Inputs.Register("input", func() (contracts.InputAdapter, error) {
 		if modules.inputBuildErr != nil {
@@ -1807,7 +1822,7 @@ type runnerValidator struct {
 	requests []contracts.ValidationRequest
 }

-type runnerRawValidator struct {
+type runnerChainValidator struct {
 	name     string
 	approved []bool
 	reason   string
@@ -1818,15 +1833,15 @@ type runnerRawValidator struct {
 	requests []contracts.ValidationRequest
 }

-func (validator *runnerRawValidator) Name() string {
+func (validator *runnerChainValidator) Name() string {
 	return validator.name
 }

-func (validator *runnerRawValidator) ExecutionClass() contracts.ExecutionClass {
+func (validator *runnerChainValidator) ExecutionClass() contracts.ExecutionClass {
 	return contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic
 }

-func (validator *runnerRawValidator) Validate(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ValidationRequest) (contracts.ValidationResult, error) {
+func (validator *runnerChainValidator) Validate(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ValidationRequest) (contracts.ValidationResult, error) {
 	validator.calls++
 	validator.requests = append(validator.requests, req)
 	if validator.err != nil {
@@ -2037,12 +2052,16 @@ func assertRunError(t *testing.T, err error, want string) {
 	}
 }

-func rawValidationRegistry(t *testing.T, stage ModuleStage, module string, validators ...contracts.Validator) *RawValidationRegistry {
+func validatorChainRegistry(t *testing.T, stage ModuleStage, module string, validators ...contracts.Validator) *ValidatorChainRegistry {
 	t.Helper()

-	registry := NewRawValidationRegistry()
-	if err := registry.Register(stage, module, validators...); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("register raw validators: %v", err)
+	registry := NewValidatorChainRegistry()
+	bindings := make([]ModuleBinding, 0, len(validators))
+	for _, validator := range validators {
+		bindings = append(bindings, Binding(validator.Name()))
+	}
+	if err := registry.Register(ValidatorChainMapping{Stage: stage, Module: module, Validators: bindings}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("register validator chain: %v", err)
 	}
 	return registry
 }
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/validator_chain_registry.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/validator_chain_registry.go
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+package pipeline
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+type validatorChainKey struct {
+	stage  ModuleStage
+	module string
+}
+
+type ValidatorChainMapping struct {
+	Stage      ModuleStage     `json:"stage"`
+	Module     string          `json:"module"`
+	Validators []ModuleBinding `json:"validators,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type ValidatorChainRegistry struct {
+	chains map[validatorChainKey][]ModuleBinding
+}
+
+func NewValidatorChainRegistry() *ValidatorChainRegistry {
+	return &ValidatorChainRegistry{
+		chains: make(map[validatorChainKey][]ModuleBinding),
+	}
+}
+
+func (r *ValidatorChainRegistry) Register(mapping ValidatorChainMapping) error {
+	if r == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("validator chain registry must not be nil")
+	}
+	normalized, err := normalizeValidatorChainMapping(mapping)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if r.chains == nil {
+		r.chains = make(map[validatorChainKey][]ModuleBinding)
+	}
+	key := validatorChainKey{stage: normalized.Stage, module: normalized.Module}
+	if _, exists := r.chains[key]; exists {
+		return fmt.Errorf("validator chain for %q %q is already registered", normalized.Stage, normalized.Module)
+	}
+	r.chains[key] = cloneModuleBindings(normalized.Validators)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (r *ValidatorChainRegistry) Validators(stage ModuleStage, module string) []ModuleBinding {
+	if r == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	chain := r.chains[validatorChainKey{stage: stage, module: strings.TrimSpace(module)}]
+	return cloneModuleBindings(chain)
+}
+
+func normalizeValidatorChainMapping(mapping ValidatorChainMapping) (ValidatorChainMapping, error) {
+	normalized := ValidatorChainMapping{
+		Stage:      mapping.Stage,
+		Module:     strings.TrimSpace(mapping.Module),
+		Validators: cloneModuleBindings(mapping.Validators),
+	}
+	switch normalized.Stage {
+	case StageChunk, StageExtract, StageMerge, StageNormalize:
+	default:
+		return ValidatorChainMapping{}, fmt.Errorf("validator chain stage %q is not supported", normalized.Stage)
+	}
+	if normalized.Module == "" {
+		return ValidatorChainMapping{}, fmt.Errorf("validator chain module key must not be empty")
+	}
+	for i, validator := range normalized.Validators {
+		if strings.TrimSpace(validator.Module) == "" {
+			return ValidatorChainMapping{}, fmt.Errorf("validator chain for %q %q has empty validator key at index %d", normalized.Stage, normalized.Module, i)
+		}
+		normalized.Validators[i] = resolveBinding(validator, "")
+	}
+	return normalized, nil
+}
+
+func cloneModuleBindings(bindings []ModuleBinding) []ModuleBinding {
+	if len(bindings) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]ModuleBinding, len(bindings))
+	for i, binding := range bindings {
+		out[i] = cloneModuleBinding(binding)
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+func cloneModuleBinding(binding ModuleBinding) ModuleBinding {
+	binding.Module = strings.TrimSpace(binding.Module)
+	binding.LLMProfile = strings.TrimSpace(binding.LLMProfile)
+	binding.Options = cloneOptions(binding.Options)
+	if len(binding.References) > 0 {
+		references := make(map[string]string, len(binding.References))
+		for key, value := range binding.References {
+			references[key] = value
+		}
+		binding.References = references
+	}
+	return binding
+}
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/validator_chain_registry_test.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/validator_chain_registry_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+package pipeline
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestValidatorChainRegistryRegistersAndLooksUpChains(t *testing.T) {
+	registry := NewValidatorChainRegistry()
+	err := registry.Register(ValidatorChainMapping{
+		Stage:      StageExtract,
+		Module:     " extractor ",
+		Validators: []ModuleBinding{{Module: " first "}, {Module: "second"}},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Register() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+
+	got := registry.Validators(StageExtract, " extractor ")
+	if len(got) != 2 || got[0].Module != "first" || got[1].Module != "second" {
+		t.Fatalf("Validators() = %#v, want trimmed chain", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidatorChainRegistryRejectsDuplicateMappings(t *testing.T) {
+	registry := NewValidatorChainRegistry()
+	mapping := ValidatorChainMapping{Stage: StageMerge, Module: "merge", Validators: []ModuleBinding{Binding("validator")}}
+	if err := registry.Register(mapping); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Register() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := registry.Register(mapping); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Register() error = nil, want duplicate mapping error")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidatorChainRegistryRejectsUnsupportedStage(t *testing.T) {
+	registry := NewValidatorChainRegistry()
+	err := registry.Register(ValidatorChainMapping{Stage: StageInput, Module: "input"})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Register() error = nil, want unsupported stage error")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidatorChainRegistryAllowsAbsentAndEmptyChains(t *testing.T) {
+	registry := NewValidatorChainRegistry()
+	if got := registry.Validators(StageNormalize, "normalize"); got != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("absent chain = %#v, want nil", got)
+	}
+	if err := registry.Register(ValidatorChainMapping{Stage: StageNormalize, Module: "normalize"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Register(empty) error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	if got := registry.Validators(StageNormalize, "normalize"); got != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("empty chain = %#v, want nil", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidatorChainRegistryReturnsDefensiveCopies(t *testing.T) {
+	registry := NewValidatorChainRegistry()
+	err := registry.Register(ValidatorChainMapping{
+		Stage:      StageChunk,
+		Module:     "chunk",
+		Validators: []ModuleBinding{{Module: "validator", Options: map[string]any{"level": "strict"}}},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Register() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+
+	got := registry.Validators(StageChunk, "chunk")
+	got[0].Module = "changed"
+	got[0].Options["level"] = "changed"
+
+	again := registry.Validators(StageChunk, "chunk")
+	if again[0].Module != "validator" || again[0].Options["level"] != "strict" {
+		t.Fatalf("Validators() after caller mutation = %#v, want original chain", again)
+	}
+}
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/validator_registry.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/validator_registry.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package pipeline

 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"sort"
 	"strings"

 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/framework/contracts"
@@ -9,29 +10,34 @@ import (

 type ValidatorConstructor func() (contracts.Validator, error)

+type ValidatorSpec struct {
+	Key            string                   `json:"key"`
+	ExecutionClass contracts.ExecutionClass `json:"execution_class"`
+}
+
 type ValidatorRegistry struct {
 	constructors map[string]ValidatorConstructor
-	specs        map[string]ModuleSpec
+	specs        map[string]ValidatorSpec
 }

 func NewValidatorRegistry() *ValidatorRegistry {
 	return &ValidatorRegistry{
 		constructors: make(map[string]ValidatorConstructor),
-		specs:        make(map[string]ModuleSpec),
+		specs:        make(map[string]ValidatorSpec),
 	}
 }

 func (r *ValidatorRegistry) Register(key string, constructor ValidatorConstructor) error {
-	return r.RegisterWithSpec(defaultModuleSpec(key, StageValidate), constructor)
+	return r.RegisterWithSpec(ValidatorSpec{Key: key, ExecutionClass: contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic}, constructor)
 }

-func (r *ValidatorRegistry) RegisterWithSpec(spec ModuleSpec, constructor ValidatorConstructor) error {
+func (r *ValidatorRegistry) RegisterWithSpec(spec ValidatorSpec, constructor ValidatorConstructor) error {
 	if r == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("validator registry must not be nil")
 	}

-	normalizedSpec := normalizeModuleSpec(spec)
-	if err := validateModuleSpec("validator", StageValidate, normalizedSpec); err != nil {
+	normalizedSpec, err := normalizeValidatorSpec(spec)
+	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	if constructor == nil {
@@ -45,10 +51,10 @@ func (r *ValidatorRegistry) RegisterWithSpec(spec ModuleSpec, constructor Valida
 		r.constructors = make(map[string]ValidatorConstructor)
 	}
 	if r.specs == nil {
-		r.specs = make(map[string]ModuleSpec)
+		r.specs = make(map[string]ValidatorSpec)
 	}
 	r.constructors[normalizedSpec.Key] = constructor
-	r.specs[normalizedSpec.Key] = cloneModuleSpec(normalizedSpec)
+	r.specs[normalizedSpec.Key] = normalizedSpec
 	return nil
 }

@@ -77,25 +83,45 @@ func (r *ValidatorRegistry) Build(key string) (contracts.Validator, error) {
 	if validator.Name() != normalizedKey {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("validator %q returned name %q", normalizedKey, validator.Name())
 	}
-	switch validator.ExecutionClass() {
-	case contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic, contracts.ExecutionClassLLMBacked:
-	default:
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("validator %q returned unsupported execution class %q", normalizedKey, validator.ExecutionClass())
+	spec, ok := r.specs[normalizedKey]
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("validator %q spec is not registered", normalizedKey)
+	}
+	if validator.ExecutionClass() != spec.ExecutionClass {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("validator %q returned execution class %q, want %q", normalizedKey, validator.ExecutionClass(), spec.ExecutionClass)
 	}

 	return validator, nil
 }

-func (r *ValidatorRegistry) Spec(key string) (ModuleSpec, bool) {
+func (r *ValidatorRegistry) Spec(key string) (ValidatorSpec, bool) {
 	if r == nil {
-		return ModuleSpec{}, false
+		return ValidatorSpec{}, false
 	}

 	spec, ok := r.specs[strings.TrimSpace(key)]
 	if !ok {
-		return ModuleSpec{}, false
+		return ValidatorSpec{}, false
 	}
-	return cloneModuleSpec(spec), true
+	return spec, true
+}
+
+func (r *ValidatorRegistry) RegisteredSpecs() []ValidatorSpec {
+	if r == nil || len(r.specs) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	keys := make([]string, 0, len(r.specs))
+	for key := range r.specs {
+		keys = append(keys, key)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(keys)
+
+	specs := make([]ValidatorSpec, 0, len(keys))
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		specs = append(specs, r.specs[key])
+	}
+	return specs
 }

 func (r *ValidatorRegistry) RegisteredKeys() []string {
@@ -105,3 +131,19 @@ func (r *ValidatorRegistry) RegisteredKeys() []string {

 	return sortedRegistryKeys(r.constructors)
 }
+
+func normalizeValidatorSpec(spec ValidatorSpec) (ValidatorSpec, error) {
+	normalized := ValidatorSpec{
+		Key:            strings.TrimSpace(spec.Key),
+		ExecutionClass: spec.ExecutionClass,
+	}
+	if normalized.Key == "" {
+		return ValidatorSpec{}, fmt.Errorf("validator key must not be empty")
+	}
+	switch normalized.ExecutionClass {
+	case contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic, contracts.ExecutionClassLLMBacked:
+	default:
+		return ValidatorSpec{}, fmt.Errorf("validator %q execution class %q is not supported", normalized.Key, normalized.ExecutionClass)
+	}
+	return normalized, nil
+}
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/validator_registry_test.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/validator_registry_test.go
@@ -2,88 +2,116 @@ package pipeline

 import (
 	"context"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"

 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/notarius/internal/framework/contracts"
 )

 func TestValidatorRegistryBehavior(t *testing.T) {
-	runRegistryBehaviorTests(t, registryBehaviorCase[contracts.Validator]{
-		name:       "ValidatorRegistry",
-		key:        "generic-validator",
-		stage:      StageValidate,
-		wrongStage: StageExtract,
-		newRegistry: func() any {
-			return NewValidatorRegistry()
-		},
-		register: func(registry any, key string, constructor func() (contracts.Validator, error)) error {
-			return registry.(*ValidatorRegistry).Register(key, constructor)
-		},
-		registerWithSpec: func(registry any, spec ModuleSpec, constructor func() (contracts.Validator, error)) error {
-			return registry.(*ValidatorRegistry).RegisterWithSpec(spec, constructor)
-		},
-		build: func(registry any, key string) (contracts.Validator, error) {
-			return registry.(*ValidatorRegistry).Build(key)
-		},
-		spec: func(registry any, key string) (ModuleSpec, bool) {
-			return registry.(*ValidatorRegistry).Spec(key)
-		},
-		registeredKeys: func(registry any) []string {
-			return registry.(*ValidatorRegistry).RegisteredKeys()
-		},
-		nilRegister: func(key string, constructor func() (contracts.Validator, error)) error {
-			var registry *ValidatorRegistry
-			return registry.Register(key, constructor)
-		},
-		nilBuild: func(key string) (contracts.Validator, error) {
-			var registry *ValidatorRegistry
-			return registry.Build(key)
-		},
-		nilSpec: func(key string) (ModuleSpec, bool) {
-			var registry *ValidatorRegistry
-			return registry.Spec(key)
-		},
-		nilRegisteredKey: func() []string {
-			var registry *ValidatorRegistry
-			return registry.RegisteredKeys()
-		},
-		constructor: func(key string) func() (contracts.Validator, error) {
-			return func() (contracts.Validator, error) {
-				return registryValidator{name: key}, nil
-			}
-		},
-		moduleKey: func(module contracts.Validator) string {
-			return module.Name()
-		},
-	})
+	registry := NewValidatorRegistry()
+	if err := registry.Register(" generic-validator ", validatorConstructor("generic-validator", contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Register() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+
+	validator, err := registry.Build("generic-validator")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Build() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+	if validator.Name() != "generic-validator" {
+		t.Fatalf("validator name = %q, want generic-validator", validator.Name())
+	}
+
+	spec, ok := registry.Spec(" generic-validator ")
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("Spec() ok = false, want true")
+	}
+	want := ValidatorSpec{Key: "generic-validator", ExecutionClass: contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(spec, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("Spec() = %#v, want %#v", spec, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidatorRegistryRegistersSpecs(t *testing.T) {
+	registry := NewValidatorRegistry()
+	spec := ValidatorSpec{Key: " llm-validator ", ExecutionClass: contracts.ExecutionClassLLMBacked}
+	if err := registry.RegisterWithSpec(spec, validatorConstructor("llm-validator", contracts.ExecutionClassLLMBacked)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisterWithSpec() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+
+	got, ok := registry.Spec("llm-validator")
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("Spec() ok = false, want true")
+	}
+	want := ValidatorSpec{Key: "llm-validator", ExecutionClass: contracts.ExecutionClassLLMBacked}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("Spec() = %#v, want %#v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestValidatorRegistryRegisteredSpecsAreSorted(t *testing.T) {
+	registry := NewValidatorRegistry()
+	for _, key := range []string{"zeta", "alpha"} {
+		if err := registry.Register(key, validatorConstructor(key, contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic)); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Register(%q) error = %v", key, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	specs := registry.RegisteredSpecs()
+	if len(specs) != 2 || specs[0].Key != "alpha" || specs[1].Key != "zeta" {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisteredSpecs() = %#v, want sorted specs", specs)
+	}
 }

 func TestValidatorRegistryRejectsUnsupportedExecutionClass(t *testing.T) {
 	registry := NewValidatorRegistry()
-	if err := registry.Register("invalid-validator", func() (contracts.Validator, error) {
-		return invalidExecutionClassValidator{name: "invalid-validator"}, nil
-	}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Register() error = %v, want nil", err)
-	}
-
-	_, err := registry.Build("invalid-validator")
+	err := registry.RegisterWithSpec(
+		ValidatorSpec{Key: "invalid-validator", ExecutionClass: contracts.ExecutionClass("unsupported")},
+		validatorConstructor("invalid-validator", contracts.ExecutionClass("unsupported")),
+	)
 	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("Build() error = nil, want unsupported execution class error")
+		t.Fatal("RegisterWithSpec() error = nil, want unsupported execution class error")
 	}
 }

-type invalidExecutionClassValidator struct {
-	name string
+func TestValidatorRegistryRejectsConstructorExecutionClassMismatch(t *testing.T) {
+	registry := NewValidatorRegistry()
+	if err := registry.RegisterWithSpec(
+		ValidatorSpec{Key: "validator", ExecutionClass: contracts.ExecutionClassDeterministic},
+		validatorConstructor("validator", contracts.ExecutionClassLLMBacked),
+	); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RegisterWithSpec() error = %v, want nil", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err := registry.Build("validator")
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Build() error = nil, want execution class mismatch")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "execution class") {
+		t.Fatalf("Build() error = %q, want execution class context", err.Error())
+	}
 }

-func (validator invalidExecutionClassValidator) Name() string {
+type testValidator struct {
+	name           string
+	executionClass contracts.ExecutionClass
+}
+
+func validatorConstructor(name string, executionClass contracts.ExecutionClass) ValidatorConstructor {
+	return func() (contracts.Validator, error) {
+		return testValidator{name: name, executionClass: executionClass}, nil
+	}
+}
+
+func (validator testValidator) Name() string {
 	return validator.name
 }

-func (validator invalidExecutionClassValidator) ExecutionClass() contracts.ExecutionClass {
-	return contracts.ExecutionClass("unsupported")
+func (validator testValidator) ExecutionClass() contracts.ExecutionClass {
+	return validator.executionClass
 }

-func (validator invalidExecutionClassValidator) Validate(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ValidationRequest) (contracts.ValidationResult, error) {
+func (validator testValidator) Validate(ctx context.Context, req contracts.ValidationRequest) (contracts.ValidationResult, error) {
 	return contracts.ValidationResult{Approved: true}, nil
 }
--- a/internal/framework/pipeline/walking_skeleton_test.go
+++ b/internal/framework/pipeline/walking_skeleton_test.go
@@ -97,12 +97,13 @@ func walkingSkeletonCatalog(t *testing.T) ModuleCatalog {
 	t.Helper()

 	catalog := ModuleCatalog{
-		Inputs:      NewInputAdapterRegistry(),
-		Chunkers:    NewChunkerRegistry(),
-		Extractors:  NewExtractorRegistry(),
-		Mergers:     NewMergerRegistry(),
-		Normalizers: NewNormalizerRegistry(),
-		Outputs:     NewOutputEncoderRegistry(),
+		Inputs:          NewInputAdapterRegistry(),
+		Chunkers:        NewChunkerRegistry(),
+		Extractors:      NewExtractorRegistry(),
+		Mergers:         NewMergerRegistry(),
+		Normalizers:     NewNormalizerRegistry(),
+		ValidatorChains: NewValidatorChainRegistry(),
+		Outputs:         NewOutputEncoderRegistry(),
 	}
 	if err := catalog.Inputs.RegisterWithSpec(ModuleSpec{
 		Key:      "fake/input",
--- a/internal/modules/extract/dnd/spells/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/extract/dnd/spells/config_test.go
@@ -212,12 +212,13 @@ func dndSpellsTestCatalog(t *testing.T, specs dndSpellsCatalogSpecs) pipeline.Mo
 	}

 	return pipeline.ModuleCatalog{
-		Inputs:      inputs,
-		Chunkers:    chunkers,
-		Extractors:  extractors,
-		Mergers:     mergers,
-		Normalizers: normalizers,
-		Outputs:     outputs,
+		Inputs:          inputs,
+		Chunkers:        chunkers,
+		Extractors:      extractors,
+		Mergers:         mergers,
+		Normalizers:     normalizers,
+		ValidatorChains: pipeline.NewValidatorChainRegistry(),
+		Outputs:         outputs,
 	}
 }

--- a/internal/modules/input/seriatim/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/modules/input/seriatim/config_test.go
@@ -151,12 +151,13 @@ func seriatimTestCatalog(t *testing.T, inputSpec pipeline.ModuleSpec) pipeline.M
 	})

 	return pipeline.ModuleCatalog{
-		Inputs:      inputs,
-		Chunkers:    chunkers,
-		Extractors:  extractors,
-		Mergers:     mergers,
-		Normalizers: normalizers,
-		Outputs:     outputs,
+		Inputs:          inputs,
+		Chunkers:        chunkers,
+		Extractors:      extractors,
+		Mergers:         mergers,
+		Normalizers:     normalizers,
+		ValidatorChains: pipeline.NewValidatorChainRegistry(),
+		Outputs:         outputs,
 	}
 }