diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 3219661..a0be535 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -174,7 +174,8 @@ jobs:
         # it by two, retiring a legacy file moves it by one -- so gating on it
         # would punish ordinary progress and reward deleting hard examples.
         #
-        # scripts/catalogue_validating.txt names the files that validate. A
+        # scripts/catalogue_validation_baseline.txt names the files that pass
+        # validation -- which is not the same as running correctly. A
         # file LEAVING that list fails this job. A file joining it does not;
         # it prints a reminder to run --update.
         #
diff --git a/scripts/catalogue_report.py b/scripts/catalogue_report.py
index ffe0a64..3e48bb6 100644
--- a/scripts/catalogue_report.py
+++ b/scripts/catalogue_report.py
@@ -10,10 +10,16 @@
 
 So this reports two different things, and only one of them can fail the build:
 
-* **The supported list.** `scripts/catalogue_validating.txt` names the files
-  that validate today. A file dropping out of it is a regression and fails.
-  A file newly validating is an improvement and does not -- it just prints a
-  reminder to add it.
+* **The validation baseline.** `scripts/catalogue_validation_baseline.txt`
+  names the files that *pass `orchestrator validate`* today. A file dropping
+  out of it is a regression and fails. A file newly validating is an
+  improvement and does not -- it just prints a reminder to add it.
+
+  It says nothing more than that. Passing validation is not the same as
+  running, producing correct artifacts, or being a supported example, and
+  calling this a "supported list" conflated four different things.
+  `examples/supported/` is the stronger contract: those are executed and
+  their behaviour asserted. This file is the weaker, wider net.
 
 * **Everything else, grouped by the validator's own first error.** Counts by
   signature rather than by a taxonomy written down somewhere, because a
@@ -22,7 +28,7 @@
 
 Usage:
     python scripts/catalogue_report.py             # report; fail on regressions
-    python scripts/catalogue_report.py --update    # rewrite the supported list
+    python scripts/catalogue_report.py --update    # rewrite the baseline
     python scripts/catalogue_report.py --json      # machine-readable
 """
 
@@ -41,7 +47,7 @@
 
 REPO = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
 EXAMPLES = REPO / "examples"
-SUPPORTED_LIST = REPO / "scripts" / "catalogue_validating.txt"
+BASELINE = REPO / "scripts" / "catalogue_validation_baseline.txt"
 
 #: Collapses the variable parts of an error so that "Tool 'a' not found" and
 #: "Tool 'b' not found" are one signature rather than two.
@@ -156,18 +162,18 @@ def compare(
     )
 
 
-def load_supported() -> Optional[List[str]]:
-    if not SUPPORTED_LIST.exists():
+def load_baseline() -> Optional[List[str]]:
+    if not BASELINE.exists():
         return None
     return [
         line.strip()
-        for line in SUPPORTED_LIST.read_text().splitlines()
+        for line in BASELINE.read_text().splitlines()
         if line.strip() and not line.startswith("#")
     ]
 
 
-def write_supported(paths: List[str]) -> None:
-    SUPPORTED_LIST.write_text(
+def write_baseline(paths: List[str]) -> None:
+    BASELINE.write_text(
         "# Examples that pass `orchestrator validate`.\n"
         "#\n"
         "# A file leaving this list is a regression and fails CI. A file\n"
@@ -183,7 +189,7 @@ def write_supported(paths: List[str]) -> None:
 def main() -> int:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
     parser.add_argument("--update", action="store_true",
-                        help="rewrite the supported list from what validates now")
+                        help="rewrite the baseline from what validates now")
     parser.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="machine-readable output")
     parser.add_argument("--jobs", type=int, default=8)
     args = parser.parse_args()
@@ -206,13 +212,13 @@ def main() -> int:
             failures[rel] = first_error(output)
 
     if args.update:
-        write_supported(validating)
-        print(f"wrote {SUPPORTED_LIST.relative_to(REPO)} with {len(validating)} entries")
+        write_baseline(validating)
+        print(f"wrote {BASELINE.relative_to(REPO)} with {len(validating)} entries")
         return 0
 
     signatures = Counter(failures.values())
-    supported = load_supported()
-    regressed, gained = compare(supported or [], validating)
+    baseline = load_baseline()
+    regressed, gained = compare(baseline or [], validating)
 
     if args.json:
         # Nothing but JSON on stdout: this used to print the human report
@@ -224,9 +230,9 @@ def main() -> int:
             "by_signature": dict(signatures.most_common()),
             "failures": failures,
             "regressed": regressed,
-            "gained": gained if supported is not None else [],
+            "gained": gained if baseline is not None else [],
         }, indent=2))
-        return 1 if (supported is not None and regressed) else 0
+        return 1 if (baseline is not None and regressed) else 0
 
     print(f"catalogue: {len(validating)}/{len(files)} validate\n")
     print(f"{'count':>5}  first error")
@@ -234,8 +240,8 @@ def main() -> int:
     for signature, count in signatures.most_common():
         print(f"{count:>5}  {signature}")
 
-    if supported is None:
-        print(f"\nno {SUPPORTED_LIST.relative_to(REPO)} yet; create it with --update")
+    if baseline is None:
+        print(f"\nno {BASELINE.relative_to(REPO)} yet; create it with --update")
         return 0
 
     if gained:
@@ -252,7 +258,7 @@ def main() -> int:
               "headline count is not the contract; these named files are.")
         return 1
 
-    print(f"\nall {len(supported)} listed example(s) still validate")
+    print(f"\nall {len(baseline)} listed example(s) still validate")
     return 0
 
 
diff --git a/scripts/catalogue_validating.txt b/scripts/catalogue_validation_baseline.txt
similarity index 89%
rename from scripts/catalogue_validating.txt
rename to scripts/catalogue_validation_baseline.txt
index 926eb76..18db8ee 100644
--- a/scripts/catalogue_validating.txt
+++ b/scripts/catalogue_validation_baseline.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-# Examples that pass `orchestrator validate`.
+# Examples that pass `orchestrator validate` -- and nothing more.
+#
+# Passing validation is not running, is not producing correct output,
+# and is not being a supported example. examples/supported/ is the
+# stronger contract: those are executed and their behaviour asserted.
 #
 # A file leaving this list is a regression and fails CI. A file
 # joining it is an improvement; run:
diff --git a/tests/test_catalogue_report.py b/tests/test_catalogue_report.py
index b506408..1675392 100644
--- a/tests/test_catalogue_report.py
+++ b/tests/test_catalogue_report.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 pytestmark = [pytest.mark.unit]
 
 REPO = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
-SUPPORTED_LIST = REPO / "scripts" / "catalogue_validating.txt"
+BASELINE = REPO / "scripts" / "catalogue_validation_baseline.txt"
 
 
 def _module():
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def test_a_swap_of_equal_size_is_still_a_regression():
 def test_every_listed_example_exists():
     """A stale entry would fail CI forever with a confusing message."""
     missing = [
-        line for line in SUPPORTED_LIST.read_text().splitlines()
+        line for line in BASELINE.read_text().splitlines()
         if line.strip() and not line.startswith("#")
         and not (REPO / line.strip()).exists()
     ]
@@ -163,6 +163,6 @@ def test_every_listed_example_exists():
 
 
 def test_the_list_is_not_empty():
-    assert report.load_supported(), (
-        "an empty supported list would make the regression gate vacuous"
+    assert report.load_baseline(), (
+        "an empty baseline would make the regression gate vacuous"
     )