diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 4dd5acb..b2d4b94 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ Markdown-carrying surfaces reuse: the shell-discovery errors, the `run` prefligh
 it. `--help` is the one deliberate restatement (`AFTER_HELP` in `src/cli/help.rs`), hard-wrapped and
 backtick-free because clap renders into a terminal; keep the two in step by hand.
 
+Which platforms that requirement is honored on — and why preparing on Windows but dispatching from
+WSL is a correctness boundary rather than a preference — is stated once under "Platform support" in
+`docs/developer_overview.md`.
+
 **Where user-facing warnings come from.** Library modules (`pipeline`, `workspace`, `sandbox`,
 `adapters`) never print. They return warning strings on their result struct — `#[serde(skip)]` when
 that struct is also a serialized artifact — and the `cli` handler prints them with the `⚠ ` prefix.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 595de5e..65b8759 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -38,10 +38,14 @@ The installed CLI is the primary manual. Start with `eval-magic --help`, and use
 ## Install
 
 Git is required at runtime, plus a POSIX shell with `jq`: the dispatch and judge recipes eval-magic
-generates are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. On Windows, run them in
-Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL, and install `jq` separately — Git for Windows does not bundle it.
+generates are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. The shell that runs them
+has to resolve the same paths the workspace was prepared with. On Windows that is Git Bash (Git for
+Windows), with `jq` installed separately — Git for Windows does not bundle it. WSL resolves a
+different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it.
 Set `EVAL_MAGIC_SH` to select a specific `sh`.
 
+Windows support runs through Git Bash and is deprecated: a future release will require WSL.
+
 Prebuilt binaries for macOS, Linux, and Windows are attached to each
 [GitHub release](https://github.com/slowdini/eval-magic/releases).
 
diff --git a/docs/developer_overview.md b/docs/developer_overview.md
index 0ecc36c..efe3adc 100644
--- a/docs/developer_overview.md
+++ b/docs/developer_overview.md
@@ -66,6 +66,27 @@ following authorities:
   infer one harness's flags or event shapes from another harness.
 - Tests and golden artifacts for behavior that crosses a module or CLI boundary.
 
+## Platform support
+
+| Tier | Platform | Verified by |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| Supported | Linux, macOS | the `ubuntu-latest` CI job |
+| Deprecated | Windows, through Git Bash (Git for Windows) | the `windows-latest` CI job |
+| Unsupported | preparing a workspace on Windows and dispatching it from WSL | — |
+
+Windows support is deprecated in favor of WSL, and its removal is gated on #256, which replaces
+the generated POSIX recipes with a runner-driven `eval-magic dispatch`. Until that lands, the
+Windows runner stays green and Windows-native behavior is held to the same bar as any other
+platform: a Windows failure is a real failure, not an accepted gap. Do not add new Windows-native
+accommodation in the meantime.
+
+The unsupported row is a correctness boundary rather than a preference. A generated recipe carries
+the absolute paths of the host that prepared the workspace. Git Bash shares the Windows filesystem,
+so those paths resolve; WSL resolves its own namespace, where a `C:\…` path names nothing. Nothing
+in the tree translates between the two, so the split fails quietly instead of loudly.
+`POSIX_TOOLING_REQUIREMENT` (`src/core/runtime.rs`) is the single wording every user-facing surface
+reuses to state this; `src/cli/help.rs` restates it for clap by hand.
+
 ## Make and verify a change
 
 Trace the user-visible behavior from the CLI handler into library-owned logic and artifacts before
diff --git a/src/cli/help.rs b/src/cli/help.rs
index 9dc74fb..69afc86 100644
--- a/src/cli/help.rs
+++ b/src/cli/help.rs
@@ -9,9 +9,12 @@
 pub(super) const AFTER_HELP: &str = "\
 REQUIREMENTS:
   Git, plus a POSIX shell with jq, xargs, tr, and wc. The dispatch and judge
-  recipes in the generated RUNBOOK.md are POSIX command lines — on Windows,
-  run them in Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL, and install jq separately.
-  Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific sh.
+  recipes in the generated RUNBOOK.md are POSIX command lines, and the shell
+  that runs them has to resolve the same paths the workspace was prepared
+  with. On Windows that is Git Bash (Git for Windows), with jq installed
+  separately. WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run
+  eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH
+  to select a specific sh.
 
 EXAMPLES:
   # Scaffold a first eval and prepare its isolated comparison environments
diff --git a/src/cli/run/orchestrate/shell.rs b/src/cli/run/orchestrate/shell.rs
index a8c8a6e..621c60c 100644
--- a/src/cli/run/orchestrate/shell.rs
+++ b/src/cli/run/orchestrate/shell.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,13 @@
 //!
 //! Unlike [`super::git`], a missing shell is a warning rather than an error.
 //! `run` never dispatches — it prepares a workspace, and that workspace is
-//! correct whatever shell prepared it. Preparing on Windows and dispatching from
-//! WSL is a legitimate split, so this reports the gap and lets the run finish.
+//! correct whatever shell prepared it, so this reports the gap and lets the run
+//! finish.
+//!
+//! The shell that eventually dispatches still has to resolve the paths this host
+//! wrote into the recipes, which keeps the gap host-local: Git Bash shares the
+//! Windows filesystem, WSL resolves its own. See [`POSIX_TOOLING_REQUIREMENT`]
+//! for the declared rule the warnings below defer to.
 
 use std::path::Path;
 
@@ -39,8 +44,8 @@ pub(super) fn preflight_posix_tooling() -> Vec<String> {
 fn tooling_warning(shell: Result<&Path, &str>, missing: Option<&str>) -> Option<String> {
     if let Err(reason) = shell {
         return Some(format!(
-            "{reason} The workspace and recipes below are still correct — prepare here and \
-             dispatch them from a POSIX shell."
+            "{reason} The workspace and recipes below are still correct — dispatch them from a \
+             POSIX shell on this host."
         ));
     }
     let reason = missing?;
@@ -73,6 +78,19 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(warning.contains("Git Bash"), "{warning}");
     }
 
+    /// An unqualified "dispatch them from a POSIX shell" reads as an invitation
+    /// to prepare here and dispatch from WSL — the one split
+    /// [`POSIX_TOOLING_REQUIREMENT`] rules out, and the one that fails quietly.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_missing_shell_confines_dispatch_to_the_host_that_prepared_the_workspace() {
+        let warning = tooling_warning(Err("no POSIX shell found. Use Git Bash."), None)
+            .expect("a host with no POSIX shell must be told");
+        assert!(
+            warning.contains("this host"),
+            "the warning must keep dispatch on the preparing host: {warning}"
+        );
+    }
+
     /// A shell that is missing a recipe tool names the tool and the shell whose
     /// PATH was searched, and still points at the declared requirement — Git for
     /// Windows resolves a shell but bundles no `jq`, which is exactly this case.
diff --git a/src/core/runtime.rs b/src/core/runtime.rs
index ee3bcce..630e444 100644
--- a/src/core/runtime.rs
+++ b/src/core/runtime.rs
@@ -105,9 +105,19 @@ pub fn run_git(args: &[&str], cwd: &Path) -> GitOutput {
 /// for Windows supplies `sh`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc` but not `jq`, so guidance
 /// naming only the shell would send an operator to a setup that still walls out
 /// at the judge step.
+///
+/// It also separates the two Windows options rather than listing them side by
+/// side. A generated recipe carries the preparing host's absolute paths, so the
+/// dispatching shell has to resolve those same paths. Git Bash does — it shares
+/// the Windows filesystem. WSL does not: `C:\…` names nothing in its namespace,
+/// so WSL is correct only when eval-magic itself runs inside it. Nothing here
+/// translates between the two, and a split across that boundary fails quietly
+/// rather than loudly.
 pub(crate) const POSIX_TOOLING_REQUIREMENT: &str = "eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, \
-     `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash \
-     (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.";
+     `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths \
+     this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a \
+     different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into \
+     it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.";
 
 /// `sh` locations inside a Git for Windows install, given the `git --exec-path`
 /// directory (`<root>/mingw64/libexec/git-core` — hence three levels up).
@@ -358,6 +368,25 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(shell.is_file(), "{} is not a file", shell.display());
     }
 
+    /// The declared requirement has to separate the two Windows options rather
+    /// than list them as equivalent. Git Bash shares the Windows filesystem, so a
+    /// workspace prepared by a native run dispatches from it correctly. WSL
+    /// resolves a different namespace, where the `C:\…` paths a native run wrote
+    /// name nothing — so WSL is only correct when eval-magic itself runs inside
+    /// it. Listing the two side by side invites a split that silently cannot work.
+    #[test]
+    fn the_declared_requirement_places_wsl_around_eval_magic_not_downstream_of_it() {
+        assert!(
+            POSIX_TOOLING_REQUIREMENT.contains("Git Bash"),
+            "{POSIX_TOOLING_REQUIREMENT}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            POSIX_TOOLING_REQUIREMENT.contains("inside WSL"),
+            "WSL must be named as where eval-magic runs, not somewhere to dispatch \
+             into: {POSIX_TOOLING_REQUIREMENT}"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn require_posix_toolchain_names_the_tool_that_is_missing() {
         let error = require_posix_toolchain(&["eval-magic-not-a-real-tool"])
diff --git a/tests/golden/claude-code/manifest-nomodel.golden.md b/tests/golden/claude-code/manifest-nomodel.golden.md
index 9d30538..9f0ea4a 100644
--- a/tests/golden/claude-code/manifest-nomodel.golden.md
+++ b/tests/golden/claude-code/manifest-nomodel.golden.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Total dispatches: 2
 
 In an agent session, read `dispatch.json` (sibling of this file) instead of this manifest. Each task has a `dispatch_prompt_path` field pointing at the file that holds the full prompt — dispatch the task with a short "read this file and follow it" instruction rather than inlining the prompt — plus exact paths for `run.json` and `timing.json`.
 
-**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
+**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
 
 After all dispatches (Claude Code):
 
diff --git a/tests/golden/claude-code/manifest.golden.md b/tests/golden/claude-code/manifest.golden.md
index a72f47f..83499d7 100644
--- a/tests/golden/claude-code/manifest.golden.md
+++ b/tests/golden/claude-code/manifest.golden.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Total dispatches: 2
 
 In an agent session, read `dispatch.json` (sibling of this file) instead of this manifest. Each task has a `dispatch_prompt_path` field pointing at the file that holds the full prompt — dispatch the task with a short "read this file and follow it" instruction rather than inlining the prompt — plus exact paths for `run.json` and `timing.json`.
 
-**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
+**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
 
 After all dispatches (Claude Code):
 
diff --git a/tests/golden/claude-code/runbook.golden.md b/tests/golden/claude-code/runbook.golden.md
index 265e33a..713eace 100644
--- a/tests/golden/claude-code/runbook.golden.md
+++ b/tests/golden/claude-code/runbook.golden.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ This runbook is for a human driving the run from a terminal. Work from this iter
 and copy-paste each step. The workspace is self-contained — you should not need the surrounding
 repo.
 
-> **Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
+> **Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
 
 - **Skill under test:** widget-skill
 - **Mode:** revision — comparing `old_skill` vs `new_skill`
diff --git a/tests/golden/cline/manifest.golden.md b/tests/golden/cline/manifest.golden.md
index df07631..5103519 100644
--- a/tests/golden/cline/manifest.golden.md
+++ b/tests/golden/cline/manifest.golden.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Total dispatches: 2
 
 In an agent session, read `dispatch.json` (sibling of this file) instead of this manifest. Each task has a `dispatch_prompt_path` field pointing at the file that holds the full prompt — dispatch the task with a short "read this file and follow it" instruction rather than inlining the prompt — plus exact paths for `run.json` and `timing.json`.
 
-**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
+**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
 
 After all dispatches (Cline):
 
diff --git a/tests/golden/cline/runbook.golden.md b/tests/golden/cline/runbook.golden.md
index f858583..f6ce60e 100644
--- a/tests/golden/cline/runbook.golden.md
+++ b/tests/golden/cline/runbook.golden.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ This runbook is for a human driving the run from a terminal. Work from this iter
 and copy-paste each step. The workspace is self-contained — you should not need the surrounding
 repo.
 
-> **Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
+> **Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
 
 - **Skill under test:** widget-skill
 - **Mode:** revision — comparing `old_skill` vs `new_skill`
diff --git a/tests/golden/codex/manifest-noguard.golden.md b/tests/golden/codex/manifest-noguard.golden.md
index 117a33c..8312d24 100644
--- a/tests/golden/codex/manifest-noguard.golden.md
+++ b/tests/golden/codex/manifest-noguard.golden.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Total dispatches: 2
 
 In an agent session, read `dispatch.json` (sibling of this file) instead of this manifest. Each task has a `dispatch_prompt_path` field pointing at the file that holds the full prompt — dispatch the task with a short "read this file and follow it" instruction rather than inlining the prompt — plus exact paths for `run.json` and `timing.json`.
 
-**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
+**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
 
 After all dispatches (Codex):
 
diff --git a/tests/golden/codex/manifest.golden.md b/tests/golden/codex/manifest.golden.md
index 7c802ff..75b3ee4 100644
--- a/tests/golden/codex/manifest.golden.md
+++ b/tests/golden/codex/manifest.golden.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Total dispatches: 2
 
 In an agent session, read `dispatch.json` (sibling of this file) instead of this manifest. Each task has a `dispatch_prompt_path` field pointing at the file that holds the full prompt — dispatch the task with a short "read this file and follow it" instruction rather than inlining the prompt — plus exact paths for `run.json` and `timing.json`.
 
-**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
+**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
 
 After all dispatches (Codex):
 
diff --git a/tests/golden/codex/runbook.golden.md b/tests/golden/codex/runbook.golden.md
index 959daf3..6bbb1b9 100644
--- a/tests/golden/codex/runbook.golden.md
+++ b/tests/golden/codex/runbook.golden.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ This runbook is for a human driving the run from a terminal. Work from this iter
 and copy-paste each step. The workspace is self-contained — you should not need the surrounding
 repo.
 
-> **Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
+> **Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
 
 - **Skill under test:** widget-skill
 - **Mode:** revision — comparing `old_skill` vs `new_skill`
diff --git a/tests/golden/opencode/manifest.golden.md b/tests/golden/opencode/manifest.golden.md
index a25dd60..9acfc20 100644
--- a/tests/golden/opencode/manifest.golden.md
+++ b/tests/golden/opencode/manifest.golden.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Total dispatches: 2
 
 In an agent session, read `dispatch.json` (sibling of this file) instead of this manifest. Each task has a `dispatch_prompt_path` field pointing at the file that holds the full prompt — dispatch the task with a short "read this file and follow it" instruction rather than inlining the prompt — plus exact paths for `run.json` and `timing.json`.
 
-**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
+**Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
 
 After all dispatches (OpenCode):
 
diff --git a/tests/golden/opencode/runbook.golden.md b/tests/golden/opencode/runbook.golden.md
index 23efe8a..bdd0107 100644
--- a/tests/golden/opencode/runbook.golden.md
+++ b/tests/golden/opencode/runbook.golden.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ This runbook is for a human driving the run from a terminal. Work from this iter
 and copy-paste each step. The workspace is self-contained — you should not need the surrounding
 repo.
 
-> **Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed — on Windows, use Git Bash (Git for Windows) or WSL. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
+> **Requires:** eval-magic's dispatch and judge recipes are POSIX command lines built on `jq`, `xargs`, `tr`, and `wc`. Run them in a POSIX shell with `jq` installed that resolves the same paths this workspace was prepared with — on Windows, Git Bash (Git for Windows). WSL resolves a different filesystem namespace, so run eval-magic inside WSL rather than dispatching into it. Set EVAL_MAGIC_SH to select a specific `sh`.
 
 - **Skill under test:** widget-skill
 - **Mode:** revision — comparing `old_skill` vs `new_skill`