diff --git a/book/vscode-ext/src/commands/buildCommands.ts b/book/vscode-ext/src/commands/buildCommands.ts
index 38d2c1f91..daa4acc46 100644
--- a/book/vscode-ext/src/commands/buildCommands.ts
+++ b/book/vscode-ext/src/commands/buildCommands.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { discoverChapters } from '../utils/chapters';
 import { getRepoRoot, parseQmdFile } from '../utils/workspace';
 import { runInVisibleTerminal } from '../utils/terminal';
 import { getQuartoResetAllFormatsCommand, withQuartoResetPrefix } from '../utils/quartoConfigReset';
+import { showBuildManifest } from '../utils/buildManifest';
 
 /** Map volume → PDF filename (derived from book title in Quarto config). */
 const PDF_FILENAMES: Record<VolumeId, string> = {
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ export function registerBuildCommands(context: vscode.ExtensionContext): void {
         const buildCmd = `./book/binder build ${fmtLower} --${vol} -v`;
         const label = `Build Volume ${fmt.toUpperCase()} (${vol})`;
         const fullCmd = withQuartoResetPrefix(fmtLower, vol, buildCmd);
+        showBuildManifest({ repoRoot: root, vol, format: fmtLower, mode: 'sequential', command: fullCmd });
         if (fmtLower === 'pdf') {
           runPdfBuildAndOpen(fullCmd, root, vol, label);
         } else {
@@ -125,6 +127,7 @@ export function registerBuildCommands(context: vscode.ExtensionContext): void {
       const buildCmd = `./book/binder build ${fmtLower} --${vol} -v`;
       const label = `Build Full Volume ${fmtLower.toUpperCase()} (${vol})`;
       const fullCmd = withQuartoResetPrefix(fmtLower, vol, buildCmd);
+      showBuildManifest({ repoRoot: root, vol, format: fmtLower, mode: 'sequential', command: fullCmd });
       if (fmtLower === 'pdf') {
         runPdfBuildAndOpen(fullCmd, root, vol, label);
       } else {
@@ -170,6 +173,7 @@ export function registerBuildCommands(context: vscode.ExtensionContext): void {
       const buildCmd = `./book/binder build ${fmtLower} ${chapterList} --${vol} -v`;
       const label = `Build Chapters ${fmtLower.toUpperCase()} (${vol}): ${chapters.length} chapter(s)`;
       const fullCmd = withQuartoResetPrefix(fmtLower, vol, buildCmd);
+      showBuildManifest({ repoRoot: root, vol, format: fmtLower, mode: 'sequential', command: fullCmd });
       if (fmtLower === 'pdf') {
         runPdfBuildAndOpen(fullCmd, root, vol, label);
       } else {
diff --git a/book/vscode-ext/src/commands/debugCommands.ts b/book/vscode-ext/src/commands/debugCommands.ts
index 80fbfc0cf..29b568b51 100644
--- a/book/vscode-ext/src/commands/debugCommands.ts
+++ b/book/vscode-ext/src/commands/debugCommands.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { VolumeId } from '../types';
 import { getRepoRoot } from '../utils/workspace';
 import { discoverChapters } from '../utils/chapters';
 import { runInVisibleTerminal } from '../utils/terminal';
+import { showBuildManifest } from '../utils/buildManifest';
 import {
   cancelActiveDebugSession,
   getDebugSessionById,
@@ -67,6 +68,17 @@ async function runTestAllChapters(
   await context.workspaceState.update(STATE_LAST_PARALLEL_FORMAT, format);
 
   const allChapters = volume.chapters.map(ch => ch.name);
+
+  const parallelCmd = `./book/binder ${format} reset --${volumeId} && [parallel: ${workers} workers × ./book/binder build ${format} <chapter> --${volumeId} -v]`;
+  showBuildManifest({
+    repoRoot,
+    vol: volumeId,
+    format,
+    mode: 'parallel',
+    command: parallelCmd,
+    workers,
+  });
+
   vscode.window.showInformationMessage(
     `Testing ${allChapters.length} chapters (${format.toUpperCase()}, ${workers} workers)...`
   );
@@ -102,6 +114,13 @@ async function runDebugAllChapters(
   await context.workspaceState.update(STATE_LAST_PARALLEL_VOLUME, selection.id);
 
   const cmd = `./book/binder debug pdf --${selection.id} -v`;
+  showBuildManifest({
+    repoRoot: root,
+    vol: selection.id,
+    format: 'pdf',
+    mode: 'sequential',
+    command: cmd,
+  });
   runInVisibleTerminal(cmd, root, `Debug All Chapters (${selection.id})`);
 }
 
diff --git a/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/buildManifest.ts b/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/buildManifest.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6b4abdef2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/buildManifest.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import { VolumeId, BuildFormat } from '../types';
+import { getBuildChannel } from './terminal';
+import { getBuildEntriesForFormat } from './chapters';
+
+const BAR = '═'.repeat(70);
+const THIN = '─'.repeat(70);
+
+export interface BuildManifestOptions {
+  repoRoot: string;
+  vol: VolumeId;
+  format: BuildFormat;
+  /** 'sequential' for series builds; 'parallel' for worktree-based parallel debug. */
+  mode: 'sequential' | 'parallel';
+  /** The exact shell command that will run in the terminal. */
+  command: string;
+  /** Worker count (parallel mode only). */
+  workers?: number;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Writes a pre-flight build manifest to the MLSysBook Build output channel.
+ *
+ * Reads the YML config (comment markers stripped) so the list always reflects
+ * the full intended volume structure — not just what is currently uncommented.
+ * Add a new chapter to the YML (even commented out) and it will appear here
+ * and be included in the build after `binder reset` runs.
+ */
+export function showBuildManifest(opts: BuildManifestOptions): void {
+  const { repoRoot, vol, format, mode, command, workers } = opts;
+  const volLabel = vol === 'vol1' ? 'Volume I' : 'Volume II';
+  const { configFile, relPaths } = getBuildEntriesForFormat(repoRoot, vol, format);
+  const now = new Date().toLocaleString();
+  const modeLabel =
+    mode === 'parallel' ? `Parallel  (${workers ?? 4} workers)` : 'Sequential';
+
+  const ch = getBuildChannel();
+  ch.appendLine('');
+  ch.appendLine(BAR);
+  ch.appendLine('  MLSysBook  ·  Build Manifest');
+  ch.appendLine(BAR);
+  ch.appendLine('');
+  ch.appendLine(`  Volume  :  ${volLabel}  (${vol})`);
+  ch.appendLine(`  Format  :  ${format.toUpperCase()}`);
+  ch.appendLine(`  Mode    :  ${modeLabel}`);
+  ch.appendLine(`  Config  :  ${configFile}`);
+  ch.appendLine(`  Started :  ${now}`);
+  ch.appendLine('');
+
+  if (relPaths.length === 0) {
+    ch.appendLine('  (no entries found — check config path)');
+  } else {
+    ch.appendLine(`  Files to build  (${relPaths.length} total)`);
+    ch.appendLine(`  ${THIN}`);
+    relPaths.forEach((p, i) => {
+      ch.appendLine(`    [${String(i + 1).padStart(2, '0')}]  ${p}`);
+    });
+  }
+
+  ch.appendLine('');
+  ch.appendLine(`  ${THIN}`);
+  ch.appendLine(`  Command: ${command}`);
+  ch.appendLine(`  ${THIN}`);
+  ch.appendLine('');
+  ch.appendLine('  Starting build in terminal...');
+  ch.appendLine('');
+  ch.appendLine(BAR);
+  ch.appendLine('');
+
+  ch.show(false);
+}
diff --git a/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/chapters.ts b/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/chapters.ts
index 09677fa93..543bccde4 100644
--- a/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/chapters.ts
+++ b/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/chapters.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import * as vscode from 'vscode';
 import * as fs from 'fs';
 import * as path from 'path';
-import { ChapterInfo, ChapterOrderSource, VolumeId, VolumeInfo } from '../types';
+import { BuildFormat, ChapterInfo, ChapterOrderSource, VolumeId, VolumeInfo } from '../types';
 
 function toDisplayName(dirName: string): string {
   return dirName
@@ -119,6 +119,27 @@ function pathToChapterInfo(
   };
 }
 
+/**
+ * Returns all buildable paths for a given format by reading the YML config,
+ * stripping comment markers so every entry — whether currently commented out
+ * or active — is included in the correct book order.
+ * The YML is the single source of truth: add a chapter there (even commented)
+ * and it will appear in the manifest and be built after `binder reset`.
+ */
+export function getBuildEntriesForFormat(
+  repoRoot: string,
+  vol: VolumeId,
+  format: BuildFormat,
+): { configFile: string; relPaths: string[] } {
+  const source = format as ChapterOrderSource;
+  const entries = readBuildablePathsFromConfig(repoRoot, vol, source);
+  const configFile = path.join('book', 'quarto', 'config', `_quarto-${format}-${vol}.yml`);
+  return {
+    configFile,
+    relPaths: entries.map(e => e.relPath),
+  };
+}
+
 export function discoverChapters(repoRoot: string): VolumeInfo[] {
   const volumes: VolumeInfo[] = [];
   const chapterOrderSource = vscode.workspace
diff --git a/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/terminal.ts b/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/terminal.ts
index b143c1aa8..296026c56 100644
--- a/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/terminal.ts
+++ b/book/vscode-ext/src/utils/terminal.ts
@@ -164,6 +164,11 @@ function getLastFailure(): LastFailureState | undefined {
   return context.workspaceState.get<LastFailureState>(STATE_LAST_FAILURE_KEY);
 }
 
+/** Exposed so build manifest can append to the same channel without creating a duplicate. */
+export function getBuildChannel(): vscode.OutputChannel {
+  return getOutputChannel();
+}
+
 export function initializeRunManager(context: vscode.ExtensionContext): void {
   extensionContext = context;
   const savedRuns = context.workspaceState.get<CommandRunRecord[]>(STATE_COMMAND_HISTORY_KEY, []);