diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e931b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+
+# Build directory
+build/
+
+# Qt creator user files
+*.user
+*.pro.user
+*.opensdf
+*.sdf
+
+# CMake cache
+CMakeCache.txt
+CMakeFiles/
+cmake_install.cmake
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 05adc82..8224829 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,8 +11,12 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
 # Find Qt6
 find_package(Qt6 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Widgets)
 
-# Add the libeismultiplexer library
-add_subdirectory(../libeismultiplexer)
+# Enable automoc for Qt meta-object compiler
+set(CMAKE_AUTOMOC ON)
+
+# Include the libeismultiplexer library
+include_directories(/workspace/libeismultiplexer)
+link_directories(/workspace/libeismultiplexer/build)
 
 # Add the application executable
 add_executable(eismultiplexer-qt
diff --git a/channelwidget.cpp b/channelwidget.cpp
index ce2366a..b351fe6 100644
--- a/channelwidget.cpp
+++ b/channelwidget.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "channelwidget.h"
 #include <QDebug>
+#include <QMessageBox>
 
 ChannelWidget::ChannelWidget(uint16_t deviceSerial, uint16_t channelNumber, struct eismultiplexer* multiplexer,
                              QWidget *parent)
@@ -31,18 +32,44 @@ ChannelWidget::~ChannelWidget()
     // Nothing to clean up
 }
 
+uint16_t ChannelWidget::getDeviceSerial() const
+{
+    return deviceSerial;
+}
+
+uint16_t ChannelWidget::getChannelNumber() const
+{
+    return channelNumber;
+}
+
+bool ChannelWidget::isChecked() const
+{
+    return checkbox->isChecked();
+}
+
 void ChannelWidget::onChannelToggled(bool checked)
 {
+    if (checked) {
+        // Emit signal before actually turning on the channel
+        emit channelAboutToBeTurnedOn(deviceSerial, channelNumber);
+    }
+
     channel_t channelFlag = static_cast<channel_t>(1 << channelNumber);
     if (checked) {
         if (eismultiplexer_connect_channel(multiplexer, channelFlag) < 0) {
+            QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Connection Failed"),
+                                 tr("Failed to connect channel %1 on device %2").arg(channelNumber).arg(deviceSerial));
             qWarning() << "Failed to connect channel" << channelNumber << "on device" << deviceSerial;
             checkbox->setChecked(false);
+            setEnabled(false); // Gray out the widget
         }
     } else {
         if (eismultiplexer_disconnect_channel(multiplexer, channelFlag) < 0) {
+            QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Disconnection Failed"),
+                                 tr("Failed to disconnect channel %1 on device %2").arg(channelNumber).arg(deviceSerial));
             qWarning() << "Failed to disconnect channel" << channelNumber << "on device" << deviceSerial;
             checkbox->setChecked(true);
+            setEnabled(false); // Gray out the widget
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/channelwidget.h b/channelwidget.h
index 5a2a6b7..a1e2dc1 100644
--- a/channelwidget.h
+++ b/channelwidget.h
@@ -15,9 +15,16 @@ class ChannelWidget : public QWidget
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    ChannelWidget(uint16_t deviceSerial, uint16_t channelNumber, struct eismultiplexer* multiplexer,
-                  QWidget *parent = nullptr);
-    ~ChannelWidget();
+    explicit ChannelWidget(uint16_t deviceSerial, uint16_t channelNumber, struct eismultiplexer* multiplexer,
+                           QWidget *parent = nullptr);
+    ~ChannelWidget() override;
+
+    uint16_t getDeviceSerial() const;
+    uint16_t getChannelNumber() const;
+    bool isChecked() const;
+
+signals:
+    void channelAboutToBeTurnedOn(uint16_t deviceSerial, uint16_t channelNumber);
 
 private slots:
     void onChannelToggled(bool checked);
diff --git a/mainwindow.cpp b/mainwindow.cpp
index a6da879..38a0796 100644
--- a/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "mainwindow.h"
 #include <QDebug>
+#include <QMessageBox>
 #include <eismultiplexer.h>
 
 MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent)
@@ -48,7 +49,9 @@ void MainWindow::enumerateDevices()
     size_t count = 0;
     uint16_t* serials = eismultiplexer_list_available_devices(&count);
 
-    if (!serials) {
+    if (!serials || count == 0) {
+        QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("No Devices Found"),
+                             tr("No EIS multiplexer devices were found. Please connect a device and try again."));
         qWarning() << "No EIS multiplexer devices found";
         return;
     }
@@ -67,6 +70,8 @@ void MainWindow::enumerateDevices()
             }
             eismultiplexer_disconnect(&multiplexer);
         } else {
+            QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Connection Failed"),
+                                 tr("Failed to connect to device with serial %1").arg(serial));
             qWarning() << "Failed to connect to device with serial" << serial;
         }
     }
diff --git a/mainwindow.h b/mainwindow.h
index 519cb37..4426a48 100644
--- a/mainwindow.h
+++ b/mainwindow.h
@@ -19,8 +19,11 @@ class MainWindow : public QMainWindow
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    MainWindow(QWidget *parent = nullptr);
-    ~MainWindow();
+    explicit MainWindow(QWidget *parent = nullptr);
+    ~MainWindow() override;
+
+private slots:
+    void onChannelAboutToBeTurnedOn(uint16_t deviceSerial, uint16_t channelNumber);
 
 private:
     void enumerateDevices();