Support sorting configuration

**Problem**
When working with validation, the error messages could be more descriptive.

**Suggestion**
Improve error handling and add detailed error messages.

**Context**
This would help with debugging and maintenance.

No files, tests, or entry points are named. Start by locating the validation and configuration-handling paths in the repository, then clarify how sorting should be configured and which validation failures need descriptive messages; done requires agreed behavior and coverage for those cases.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.