Umka Parental Control

A developer has built Umka Parental Control, a complete parental control system for Windows that includes a desktop tool for parents to configure schedules and website restrictions, an agent on the child's computer that enforces internet blocking and displays a non-bypassable night screen, and a utility to fully uninstall the agent. The project, which started as a simple DNS blocker and grew into a robust system with stable operation on Windows 10 and 11, was finalized and polished as part of the GitHub Finish-Up-A-Thon Challenge.

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.