diff --git a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/components/vmobj.py b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/components/vmobj.py
index 5caf7b02c..aa613e1e2 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/components/vmobj.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/components/vmobj.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import tempfile
 import threading
 import time
 import weakref
-from collections.abc import Generator
+from collections.abc import Callable, Generator
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from datetime import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from clan_vm_manager.components.executor import MPProcess, spawn
 
 gi.require_version("GObject", "2.0")
 gi.require_version("Gtk", "4.0")
-from gi.repository import GLib, GObject, Gtk
+from gi.repository import Gio, GLib, GObject, Gtk
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -29,19 +29,23 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class VMObject(GObject.Object):
     # Define a custom signal with the name "vm_stopped" and a string argument for the message
     __gsignals__: ClassVar = {
-        "vm_status_changed": (GObject.SignalFlags.RUN_FIRST, None, [])
+        "vm_status_changed": (GObject.SignalFlags.RUN_FIRST, None, []),
+        "vm_build_notify": (GObject.SignalFlags.RUN_FIRST, None, [bool, bool]),
     }
 
     def __init__(
         self,
         icon: Path,
         data: HistoryEntry,
+        build_log_cb: Callable[[Gio.File], None],
     ) -> None:
         super().__init__()
 
         # Store the data from the history entry
         self.data: HistoryEntry = data
 
+        self.build_log_cb = build_log_cb
+
         # Create a process object to store the VM process
         self.vm_process: MPProcess = MPProcess(
             "vm_dummy", mp.Process(), Path("./dummy")
@@ -89,6 +93,9 @@ class VMObject(GObject.Object):
         self.data = data
 
     def _on_vm_status_changed(self, source: "VMObject") -> None:
+        # Signal may be emited multiple times
+        self.emit("vm_build_notify", self.is_building(), self.is_running())
+
         self.switch.set_state(self.is_running() and not self.is_building())
         if self.switch.get_sensitive() is False and not self.is_building():
             self.switch.set_sensitive(True)
@@ -154,6 +161,14 @@ class VMObject(GObject.Object):
                 machine=machine,
                 tmpdir=log_dir,
             )
+
+            gfile = Gio.File.new_for_path(str(log_dir / "build.log"))
+            # Gio documentation:
+            # Obtains a file monitor for the given file.
+            # If no file notification mechanism exists, then regular polling of the file is used.
+            g_monitor = gfile.monitor_file(Gio.FileMonitorFlags.NONE, None)
+            g_monitor.connect("changed", self.on_logs_changed)
+
             GLib.idle_add(self._vm_status_changed_task)
             self.switch.set_sensitive(True)
             # Start the logs watcher
@@ -206,6 +221,18 @@ class VMObject(GObject.Object):
             log.debug(f"VM {self.get_id()} has stopped")
             GLib.idle_add(self._vm_status_changed_task)
 
+    def on_logs_changed(
+        self,
+        monitor: Gio.FileMonitor,
+        file: Gio.File,
+        other_file: Gio.File,
+        event_type: Gio.FileMonitorEvent,
+    ) -> None:
+        if event_type == Gio.FileMonitorEvent.CHANGES_DONE_HINT:
+            # File was changed and the changes were written to disk
+            # wire up the callback for setting the logs
+            self.build_log_cb(file)
+
     def start(self) -> None:
         if self.is_running():
             log.warn("VM is already running. Ignoring start request")
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/singletons/toast.py b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/singletons/toast.py
index 941fc5d93..13d5843cc 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/singletons/toast.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/singletons/toast.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import logging
+from collections.abc import Callable
 from typing import Any
 
 import gi
@@ -50,20 +51,86 @@ class ToastOverlay:
 class ErrorToast:
     toast: Adw.Toast
 
-    def __init__(self, message: str) -> None:
+    def __init__(
+        self, message: str, persistent: bool = False, details: str = ""
+    ) -> None:
         super().__init__()
-        self.toast = Adw.Toast.new(f"Error: {message}")
-        self.toast.set_priority(Adw.ToastPriority.HIGH)
+        self.toast = Adw.Toast.new(
+            f"""<span foreground='red'>❌ Error </span> {message}"""
+        )
+        self.toast.set_use_markup(True)
 
-        self.toast.set_button_label("details")
+        self.toast.set_priority(Adw.ToastPriority.HIGH)
+        self.toast.set_button_label("Show more")
+
+        if persistent:
+            self.toast.set_timeout(0)
 
         views = ViewStack.use().view
 
         # we cannot check this type, python is not smart enough
         logs_view: Logs = views.get_child_by_name("logs")  # type: ignore
-        logs_view.set_message(message)
+        logs_view.set_message(details)
 
         self.toast.connect(
             "button-clicked",
             lambda _: views.set_visible_child_name("logs"),
         )
+
+
+class WarningToast:
+    toast: Adw.Toast
+
+    def __init__(self, message: str, persistent: bool = False) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self.toast = Adw.Toast.new(
+            f"<span foreground='orange'>⚠ Warning </span> {message}"
+        )
+        self.toast.set_use_markup(True)
+
+        self.toast.set_priority(Adw.ToastPriority.NORMAL)
+
+        if persistent:
+            self.toast.set_timeout(0)
+
+
+class SuccessToast:
+    toast: Adw.Toast
+
+    def __init__(self, message: str, persistent: bool = False) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self.toast = Adw.Toast.new(f"<span foreground='green'>✅</span> {message}")
+        self.toast.set_use_markup(True)
+
+        self.toast.set_priority(Adw.ToastPriority.NORMAL)
+
+        if persistent:
+            self.toast.set_timeout(0)
+
+
+class LogToast:
+    toast: Adw.Toast
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        message: str,
+        on_button_click: Callable[[], None],
+        button_label: str = "More",
+        persistent: bool = False,
+    ) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self.toast = Adw.Toast.new(
+            f"""Logs are avilable <span weight="regular">{message}</span>"""
+        )
+        self.toast.set_use_markup(True)
+
+        self.toast.set_priority(Adw.ToastPriority.NORMAL)
+
+        if persistent:
+            self.toast.set_timeout(0)
+
+        self.toast.set_button_label(button_label)
+        self.toast.connect(
+            "button-clicked",
+            lambda _: on_button_click(),
+        )
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/singletons/use_vms.py b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/singletons/use_vms.py
index 8a7254825..f6464d8ff 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/singletons/use_vms.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/singletons/use_vms.py
@@ -10,10 +10,12 @@ from clan_cli.history.add import HistoryEntry
 from clan_vm_manager import assets
 from clan_vm_manager.components.gkvstore import GKVStore
 from clan_vm_manager.components.vmobj import VMObject
+from clan_vm_manager.singletons.use_views import ViewStack
+from clan_vm_manager.views.logs import Logs
 
 gi.require_version("GObject", "2.0")
 gi.require_version("Gtk", "4.0")
-from gi.repository import GLib
+from gi.repository import Gio, GLib
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -27,6 +29,10 @@ class ClanStore:
     _instance: "None | ClanStore" = None
     _clan_store: GKVStore[str, VMStore]
 
+    # set the vm that is outputting logs
+    # build logs are automatically streamed to the logs-view
+    _logging_vm: VMObject | None = None
+
     # Make sure the VMS class is used as a singleton
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         raise RuntimeError("Call use() instead")
@@ -41,6 +47,13 @@ class ClanStore:
 
         return cls._instance
 
+    def set_logging_vm(self, ident: str) -> VMObject | None:
+        vm = self.get_vm(ClanURI(f"clan://{ident}"))
+        if vm is not None:
+            self._logging_vm = vm
+
+        return self._logging_vm
+
     def register_on_deep_change(
         self, callback: Callable[[GKVStore, int, int, int], None]
     ) -> None:
@@ -77,12 +90,41 @@ class ClanStore:
         else:
             icon = Path(entry.flake.icon)
 
-        vm = VMObject(
-            icon=icon,
-            data=entry,
-        )
+        def log_details(gfile: Gio.File) -> None:
+            self.log_details(vm, gfile)
+
+        vm = VMObject(icon=icon, data=entry, build_log_cb=log_details)
         self.push(vm)
 
+    def log_details(self, vm: VMObject, gfile: Gio.File) -> None:
+        views = ViewStack.use().view
+        logs_view: Logs = views.get_child_by_name("logs")  # type: ignore
+
+        def file_read_callback(
+            source_object: Gio.File, result: Gio.AsyncResult, _user_data: Any
+        ) -> None:
+            try:
+                # Finish the asynchronous read operation
+                res = source_object.load_contents_finish(result)
+                _success, contents, _etag_out = res
+
+                # Convert the byte array to a string and print it
+                logs_view.set_message(contents.decode("utf-8"))
+            except Exception as e:
+                print(f"Error reading file: {e}")
+
+        # only one vm can output logs at a time
+        if vm == self._logging_vm:
+            gfile.load_contents_async(None, file_read_callback, None)
+        else:
+            log.warning(
+                "Cannot log details of VM that is not the current logging VM.",
+                vm,
+                self._logging_vm,
+            )
+
+        # we cannot check this type, python is not smart enough
+
     def push(self, vm: VMObject) -> None:
         url = str(vm.data.flake.flake_url)
 
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/list.py b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/list.py
index c9e30da0b..a1979dd3e 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/list.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/list.py
@@ -8,9 +8,15 @@ from clan_cli.clan_uri import ClanURI
 
 from clan_vm_manager.components.interfaces import ClanConfig
 from clan_vm_manager.components.vmobj import VMObject
-from clan_vm_manager.singletons.toast import ErrorToast, ToastOverlay
+from clan_vm_manager.singletons.toast import (
+    LogToast,
+    ToastOverlay,
+    WarningToast,
+)
 from clan_vm_manager.singletons.use_join import JoinList, JoinValue
+from clan_vm_manager.singletons.use_views import ViewStack
 from clan_vm_manager.singletons.use_vms import ClanStore, VMStore
+from clan_vm_manager.views.logs import Logs
 
 gi.require_version("Adw", "1")
 from gi.repository import Adw, Gdk, Gio, GLib, GObject, Gtk
@@ -168,14 +174,42 @@ class ClanList(Gtk.Box):
         ## Drop down menu
         open_action = Gio.SimpleAction.new("edit", GLib.VariantType.new("s"))
         open_action.connect("activate", self.on_edit)
+
+        build_logs_action = Gio.SimpleAction.new("logs", GLib.VariantType.new("s"))
+        build_logs_action.connect("activate", self.on_show_build_logs)
+        build_logs_action.set_enabled(False)
+
         app = Gio.Application.get_default()
         assert app is not None
+
         app.add_action(open_action)
+        app.add_action(build_logs_action)
+
+        # set a callback function for conditionally enabling the build_logs action
+        def on_vm_build_notify(
+            vm: VMObject, is_building: bool, is_running: bool
+        ) -> None:
+            build_logs_action.set_enabled(is_building or is_running)
+            app.add_action(build_logs_action)
+            if is_building:
+                ToastOverlay.use().add_toast_unique(
+                    LogToast(
+                        """Build process running ...""",
+                        on_button_click=lambda: self.show_vm_build_logs(vm.get_id()),
+                    ).toast,
+                    f"info.build.running.{vm}",
+                )
+
+        vm.connect("vm_build_notify", on_vm_build_notify)
+
         menu_model = Gio.Menu()
         menu_model.append("Edit", f"app.edit::{vm.get_id()}")
+        menu_model.append("Show Logs", f"app.logs::{vm.get_id()}")
+
         pref_button = Gtk.MenuButton()
         pref_button.set_icon_name("open-menu-symbolic")
         pref_button.set_menu_model(menu_model)
+
         button_box.append(pref_button)
 
         ## VM switch button
@@ -190,9 +224,31 @@ class ClanList(Gtk.Box):
 
     def on_edit(self, source: Any, parameter: Any) -> None:
         target = parameter.get_string()
-
         print("Editing settings for machine", target)
 
+    def on_show_build_logs(self, _: Any, parameter: Any) -> None:
+        target = parameter.get_string()
+        self.show_vm_build_logs(target)
+
+    def show_vm_build_logs(self, target: str) -> None:
+        vm = ClanStore.use().set_logging_vm(target)
+        if vm is None:
+            raise ValueError(f"VM {target} not found")
+
+        views = ViewStack.use().view
+        # Reset the logs view
+        logs: Logs = views.get_child_by_name("logs")  # type: ignore
+
+        if logs is None:
+            raise ValueError("Logs view not found")
+
+        name = vm.machine.name if vm.machine else "Unknown"
+
+        logs.set_title(f"""📄<span weight="normal"> {name}</span>""")
+        logs.set_message("Loading ...")
+
+        views.set_visible_child_name("logs")
+
     def render_join_row(
         self, boxed_list: Gtk.ListBox, join_val: JoinValue
     ) -> Gtk.Widget:
@@ -214,7 +270,9 @@ class ClanList(Gtk.Box):
             assert sub is not None
 
             ToastOverlay.use().add_toast_unique(
-                ErrorToast("Already exists. Joining again will update it").toast,
+                WarningToast(
+                    f"""<span weight="regular">{join_val.url.machine.name!s}</span> Already exists. Joining again will update it"""
+                ).toast,
                 "warning.duplicate.join",
             )
 
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/logs.py b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/logs.py
index 2374ba7f8..f7fb804f5 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/logs.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/logs.py
@@ -22,31 +22,27 @@ class Logs(Gtk.Box):
         app = Gio.Application.get_default()
         assert app is not None
 
-        self.banner = Adw.Banner.new("Error details")
+        self.banner = Adw.Banner.new("")
+        self.banner.set_use_markup(True)
         self.banner.set_revealed(True)
+        self.banner.set_button_label("Close")
 
-        close_button = Gtk.Button()
-        button_content = Adw.ButtonContent.new()
-        button_content.set_label("Back")
-        button_content.set_icon_name("go-previous-symbolic")
-        close_button.add_css_class("flat")
-        close_button.set_child(button_content)
-        close_button.connect(
-            "clicked",
+        self.banner.connect(
+            "button-clicked",
             lambda _: ViewStack.use().view.set_visible_child_name("list"),
         )
 
-        self.close_button = close_button
-
         self.text_view = Gtk.TextView()
         self.text_view.set_editable(False)
         self.text_view.set_wrap_mode(Gtk.WrapMode.WORD)
         self.text_view.add_css_class("log-view")
 
-        self.append(self.close_button)
         self.append(self.banner)
         self.append(self.text_view)
 
+    def set_title(self, title: str) -> None:
+        self.banner.set_title(title)
+
     def set_message(self, message: str) -> None:
         """
         Set the log message. This will delete any previous message
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/windows/main_window.py b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/windows/main_window.py
index 77bd4e870..887027325 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/windows/main_window.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/windows/main_window.py
@@ -46,22 +46,22 @@ class MainWindow(Adw.ApplicationWindow):
         # Initialize all views
         stack_view = ViewStack.use().view
 
+        clamp = Adw.Clamp()
+        clamp.set_child(stack_view)
+        clamp.set_maximum_size(1000)
+
         scroll = Gtk.ScrolledWindow()
         scroll.set_propagate_natural_height(True)
         scroll.set_policy(Gtk.PolicyType.NEVER, Gtk.PolicyType.AUTOMATIC)
-        scroll.set_child(ClanList(config))
+        scroll.set_child(clamp)
 
-        stack_view.add_named(scroll, "list")
+        stack_view.add_named(ClanList(config), "list")
         stack_view.add_named(Details(), "details")
         stack_view.add_named(Logs(), "logs")
 
         stack_view.set_visible_child_name(config.initial_view)
 
-        clamp = Adw.Clamp()
-        clamp.set_child(stack_view)
-        clamp.set_maximum_size(1000)
-
-        view.set_content(clamp)
+        view.set_content(scroll)
 
         self.connect("destroy", self.on_destroy)