This is a submission for the GitHub Finish-Up-A-Thon Challenge
What I Built
Umka Parental Control is a complete parental control system for Windows.
It consists of three applications:
- parent_app — a desktop tool for parents to configure schedules, night-time internet blocking, and website restrictions.
- child_app — an agent running on the child’s computer that enforces internet blocking, DNS/Firewall rules, and displays a night screen that cannot be bypassed.
- remove_child — a utility to completely uninstall child_app, remove firewall rules, and restore the system to its original state.
This project means a lot to me because it solves a real problem: helping families manage children’s screen time and online safety in a simple but technically robust way.
Demo
- Project site: https://umua.pp.ua/
- Forum discussion: https://forums.umua.pp.ua/
- GitHub: https://github.com/UAUmka/UmkaParentalControl
- Screenshots added to the release section.
- Ready-to-use .exe files are available for Windows (no Python installation required).
The Comeback Story
Originally, the project started as a simple DNS blocker. Over time, it grew into a full parental control system with:
- Stable operation on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Fixed DNS and internet restoration issues after night blocking.
- Optimized notification system (Qt tray + Plyer fallback).
- A cleanup utility that correctly removes all
UmkaChild_DOH_Block_*rules. - Cleaner logging without unnecessary HTTPS error messages.
This Finish-Up-A-Thon challenge motivated me to finalize the project, polish the documentation, and prepare a proper release.
My Experience with GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot was my companion throughout the process. It helped me:
- Debug tricky Python code (like fixing threading issues in notifications).
- Suggest patches for firewall cleanup scripts.
- Provide ready-to-use code snippets, configs, and checklists.
- Keep me focused and motivated with clear explanations and structured guidance.
Without Copilot, finishing this project would have taken much longer. It felt like having a reliable teammate who could instantly propose solutions and help me refine them.