diff --git a/GUI/server/odrive_server.py b/GUI/server/odrive_server.py
index 2261e240..5d55c05c 100644
--- a/GUI/server/odrive_server.py
+++ b/GUI/server/odrive_server.py
@@ -76,8 +76,6 @@ def home():
 
 @app.route('/api/odrives', methods=["GET"])
 def api_odrives():
-    print(len(globals()['odrives']))
-    print("inUse = " + str(globals()['inUse']))
     # spinlock
     while globals()['inUse']:
         time.sleep(0.1)
@@ -189,7 +187,7 @@ def getSampledData(vars):
     samples = {}
     for path in vars["paths"]:
         keys = path.split('.')
-        samples[path] = getVal(odrives, keys)
+        samples[path] = getVal(globals()['odrives'], keys)
 
     return samples
 
@@ -208,8 +206,10 @@ def callFunc(odrives, keyList):
             print("fcn call failed")
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    print("args from python:")
-    print(sys.argv[1:])
+    # sleep to allow time for background.js to register event callbacks for stdout,stderr
+    time.sleep(3)
+    print("args from python: " + str(sys.argv[1:0]))
+    #print(sys.argv[1:])
     # try to import based on command line arguments or config file
 
     for optPath in sys.argv[1:]:
diff --git a/GUI/src/App.vue b/GUI/src/App.vue
index 711ad5e1..eb6b8edf 100644
--- a/GUI/src/App.vue
+++ b/GUI/src/App.vue
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@
       <button
         class="dash-button"
         @click="startsample"
-        :class="[{active: sampling === true}]"
-      >start sampling</button>
+        :class="[{ active: sampling === true }]"
+      >
+        start sampling
+      </button>
       <button class="dash-button" @click="stopsample">stop sampling</button>
       <button class="dash-button" @click="exportDash">export dash</button>
       <button class="dash-button" @click="importDashWrapper">
@@ -15,23 +17,32 @@
           type="file"
           id="inputDash"
           ref="fileInput"
-          @change="importDashFile($event.target.files);$refs.fileInput.value=null"
+          @change="
+            importDashFile($event.target.files);
+            $refs.fileInput.value = null;
+          "
           value
-          style="display:none"
+          style="display: none"
         />
       </button>
       <button
         v-for="dash in dashboards"
         :key="dash.id"
-        :class="['dash-button', { active: currentDash === dash.name}]"
+        :class="['dash-button', { active: currentDash === dash.name }]"
         v-on:click.self="changeDash(dash.name)"
         v-on:dblclick="changeDashName(dash.id)"
       >
         <button
-          v-if="dash.name !== 'Start' && dash.name !== 'Config' && dash.name !== 'Wizard'"
+          v-if="
+            dash.name !== 'Start' &&
+            dash.name !== 'Config' &&
+            dash.name !== 'Wizard'
+          "
           class="close-button"
           v-on:click="deleteDash(dash.id)"
-        >X</button>
+        >
+          X
+        </button>
         {{ dash.name }}
       </button>
       <button class="dash-button dash-add" @click="addDash">+</button>
@@ -47,7 +58,12 @@
 
     <!-- FOOTER -->
     <div class="footer">
-      <Axis v-for="axis in axes" :key="axis.name" :axis="axis" :odrives="odrives"></Axis>
+      <Axis
+        v-for="axis in axes"
+        :key="axis.name"
+        :axis="axis"
+        :odrives="odrives"
+      ></Axis>
     </div>
   </div>
 </template>
@@ -56,12 +72,11 @@
 import Start from "./views/Start.vue";
 import Dashboard from "./views/Dashboard.vue";
 import Axis from "./components/Axis.vue";
-import Wizard from "./views/Wizard.vue"
+import Wizard from "./views/Wizard.vue";
 import * as socketio from "./comms/socketio";
 import { saveAs } from "file-saver";
 import { v4 as uuidv4 } from "uuid";
-
-//let propSamplePeriod = 100; //sampling period for properties in ms
+import { ipcRenderer } from "electron";
 
 export default {
   name: "App",
@@ -119,10 +134,10 @@ export default {
     },
     currentDash: function () {
       return this.$store.state.currentDash;
-    }
+    },
   },
   methods: {
-    changeDash(dashName){
+    changeDash(dashName) {
       console.log(dashName);
       this.$store.commit("setDash", dashName);
     },
@@ -229,6 +244,15 @@ export default {
     this.$store.dispatch("setServerAddress", "http://127.0.0.1:5000");
     // connect to socketio on server for sampled data
     this.updateOdrives();
+        // setup callbacks for ipcRenderer
+    ipcRenderer.on('server-stdout', (event, arg) => {
+      //console.log("SERVER STDOUT: " + arg); // prints "pong"
+      this.$store.commit('logServerMessage', arg);
+    });
+      ipcRenderer.on('server-stderr', (event, arg) => {
+      //console.log("SERVER STDERR: " + arg); // prints "pong"
+      this.$store.commit('logServerMessage', arg);
+    });
   },
 };
 </script>
diff --git a/GUI/src/background.js b/GUI/src/background.js
index c62ba64a..dfe3c57e 100644
--- a/GUI/src/background.js
+++ b/GUI/src/background.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 
-import { app, protocol, BrowserWindow } from 'electron'
+import { app, protocol, BrowserWindow, ipcMain } from 'electron'
 import { createProtocol } from 'vue-cli-plugin-electron-builder/lib'
 import installExtension, { VUEJS_DEVTOOLS } from 'electron-devtools-installer'
 const isDevelopment = process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production'
@@ -38,28 +38,7 @@ function getPyCmd() {
 }
 
 function createWindow() {
-  // Spawn the python server
-  let scriptFilename = path.join(app.getAppPath(), '../server', 'odrive_server.py');
-  const args = process.argv;
-  let effectiveCommand = [];
-  effectiveCommand.push(scriptFilename);
-  if (app.isPackaged === true) {
-    for (const arg of args.slice(1)) {
-      effectiveCommand.push(arg);
-    }
-  }
-  else {
-    for (const arg of args.slice(2)) {
-      effectiveCommand.push(arg);
-    }
-  }
-  var python = spawn(getPyCmd(), effectiveCommand);
-  python.stdout.on('data',function(data) {
-    console.log(data.toString('utf8'));
-  });
-  python.stderr.on('data',function(data) {
-    console.log(data.toString('utf8'));
-  });
+  
   // Create the browser window.
   win = new BrowserWindow({
     width: 800,
@@ -67,7 +46,8 @@ function createWindow() {
     webPreferences: {
       // Use pluginOptions.nodeIntegration, leave this alone
       // See nklayman.github.io/vue-cli-plugin-electron-builder/guide/security.html#node-integration for more info
-      nodeIntegration: process.env.ELECTRON_NODE_INTEGRATION
+      nodeIntegration: process.env.ELECTRON_NODE_INTEGRATION,
+      //preload: path.join(__dirname, 'preload.js')
     },
     icon: path.join(__static, 'icon.png')
   })
@@ -124,6 +104,30 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
     }
   }
   createWindow()
+  // Spawn the python server
+  let scriptFilename = path.join(app.getAppPath(), '../server', 'odrive_server.py');
+  const args = process.argv;
+  let effectiveCommand = [];
+  effectiveCommand.push(scriptFilename);
+  if (app.isPackaged === true) {
+    for (const arg of args.slice(1)) {
+      effectiveCommand.push(arg);
+    }
+  }
+  else {
+    for (const arg of args.slice(2)) {
+      effectiveCommand.push(arg);
+    }
+  }
+  var python = spawn(getPyCmd(), effectiveCommand);
+  python.stdout.on('data',function(data) {
+    console.log(data.toString('utf8'));
+    win.webContents.send('server-stdout', String(data.toString('utf8')));
+  });
+  python.stderr.on('data',function(data) {
+    console.log(data.toString('utf8'));
+    win.webContents.send('server-stderr', String(data.toString('utf8')));
+  });
 })
 
 // Exit cleanly on request from parent process in development mode.
diff --git a/GUI/src/main.js b/GUI/src/main.js
index 535fd873..4c313025 100644
--- a/GUI/src/main.js
+++ b/GUI/src/main.js
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import store from './store'
 import Tooltip from 'vue-directive-tooltip';
 import 'vue-directive-tooltip/dist/vueDirectiveTooltip.css';
 import 'typeface-roboto/index.css';
-            
 
 Vue.config.productionTip = false
 Vue.use(Tooltip);
diff --git a/GUI/src/store.js b/GUI/src/store.js
index 4704f994..78a0cae4 100644
--- a/GUI/src/store.js
+++ b/GUI/src/store.js
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ const axios = require('axios');
 import * as socketio from "./comms/socketio";
 //import { v4 as uuidv4 } from "uuid";
 
+
+
+
 Vue.use(Vuex);
 
 export default new Vuex.Store({
@@ -16,6 +19,7 @@ export default new Vuex.Store({
         axes: Array,
         odriveServerAddress: String,
         serverConnected: Boolean,
+        serverOutput: [],
         dashboards: [
             {
                 name: "Start",
@@ -147,6 +151,14 @@ export default new Vuex.Store({
             }
             state.newData = true;
         },
+        logServerMessage(state, payload) {
+            // payload is string
+            state.serverOutput.push(payload);
+            // cut off to 1000 lines
+            if (state.serverOutput.length > 1000) {
+                state.serverOutput.splice(0,1);
+            }
+        },
         setServerStatus(state, val) {
             state.serverConnected = val;
         },
diff --git a/GUI/src/views/Start.vue b/GUI/src/views/Start.vue
index 99791a3e..1de0dfbd 100644
--- a/GUI/src/views/Start.vue
+++ b/GUI/src/views/Start.vue
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@
     <div class="connected-container">
       <input type="text" :class="{ notConnected: notConnected, connected: connected}" v-on:change="setUrl" :value="serverAddress">
     </div>
+    <button class="show-msg-button" @click="showServerMessages = !showServerMessages;">Having Trouble? Click here for debug output</button>
+    <div class="server-msgs" v-if="showServerMessages">
+      <div class="server-msg" v-for="(msg, index) in serverMessages" :key="msg + index">{{msg}}</div>
+    </div>
   </div>
 </template>
 
@@ -18,6 +22,11 @@ export default {
   name: 'Home',
   components: {
   },
+  data() {
+    return {
+      showServerMessages: false,
+    }
+  },
   computed: {
     connected() {
       return this.$store.state.serverConnected == true;
@@ -27,6 +36,15 @@ export default {
     },
     serverAddress() {
       return this.$store.state.odriveServerAddress;
+    },
+    serverMessages() {
+      if (this.$store.state.serverOutput.length >= 10) {
+        let len = this.$store.state.serverOutput.length;
+        return this.$store.state.serverOutput.slice(len-10,len);
+      }
+      else {
+        return this.$store.state.serverOutput;
+      }
     }
   },
   methods: {
@@ -86,4 +104,18 @@ input:focus {
 .notConnected {
   border-bottom: 1px solid red;
 }
+
+.show-msg-button {
+  border: none;
+  background-color: var(--bg-color);
+  margin-top: 0.5rem;
+}
+
+.server-msgs {
+  margin-top: 2rem;
+}
+
+.server-msg {
+  font-family: "Roboto Mono", monospace;
+}
 </style>
diff --git a/GUI/vue.config.js b/GUI/vue.config.js
index 4c64b663..f275add5 100644
--- a/GUI/vue.config.js
+++ b/GUI/vue.config.js
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 module.exports = {
     pluginOptions: {
         electronBuilder: {
+            //preload: 'src/preload.js',
+            nodeIntegration: true,
             builderOptions: {
                 "productName": "ODriveGUI",
                 "asar": false,