# Umka Parental Control > Source: > Published: 2026-05-27 10:56:01+00:00 *This is a submission for the *[GitHub Finish-Up-A-Thon Challenge](https://dev.to/challenges/github-2026-05-21) ## 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 ## 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.