Sophia Projects with farag2/Sanctuary/Dmitry Nefedov
< Windows Debloaters with Ben Cybulski
Link: https://github.com/farag2/Sophia-Script-for-Windows
After creating Windows 10 Debloater we realized things were a lot of work. Things were good with our debloaters but something wasn’t right …
We realized things need to be more updated frequently and with more user options.
farag2’s Sophia Script for Windows was updated regularly and is the most broad.
farag2’s passion was Windows customization, PowerShell scripting, automation and helping. That is what he is fascinated about.
He updates the script ahead of time before Microsoft make a official update release reading up all the problems and new features of Windows updates.
I knew I had to work with him because I could not keep up-to-date with the Windows updates alone. It would be too tiring and a problem as I was still new to programming. ***Later I learned programming is a lifetime learning gig***.
He had pretty rich options and features that are not available elsewhere and he is keen on adding more and more.
He was also in his own world doing this. Scripting and automation was his passion since 2014 I think. His project is 11 years old as of 2025.
Later I realized he creates the scripts to not harm the operating system telling users to keep components like Windows Defender and to not mess around using custom ISOs.
At first I thought that was odd as most users want full customization and debloating but it is very difficult to keep up removing this and that as Microsoft adds features and apps back after releasing updates.
Yes, we can figure out ourselves which components rely on this and that and take the chance to alter the OS but the amount of users that will talk react negatively when their computer ends up not working using a script would be too much for me to personally handle.
It would be great to alter the OS however you want and keep that up-to-date like other tools on the market. It is a game and fun to do this. It is the American way to alter and mod so much.
When I did the first iteration of the wrapper, farag2 reached out to me and we started working together.
I needed him and he was OK if I did a wrapper for his project. He tried before and also had full C# GUI app in the works SophiApp.
For me, the joy of learning and doing things mostly alone allowed me to feel alright and good while doing the Wrapper portion with the team. I kind of like working alone and zoning out. I am not sure if I had collaborated with more people and allowed other contributors to pitch in, things might be better or not?
However, the Wrapper is alright and functioning OK now according to farag2.
I enjoyed zoning out doing it for the last 4 – 5 years learning and growing.
It evolved overtime.
First it was a radiobutton list selection like FreeTimeTech.com Windows 10 Debloater and later it also had options to edit the functions.
Then in v2.0 it had a redesign to use comboboxes. This was farag2’s idea.
Over the next 2-3 years, I tried to code all the features of the script into the Wrapper.
Color, UI and theme changes changed overtime too.
Internal code changed a lot. Lots of refactoring. Eventually using custom classes for some controls.
We waited for other developers of the free theme and WinUI3 to update to further update.
The script is continually updated and it is easy to update PowerShell scripts.
The Wrapper is just an addon and requires not much changes to adapt to the script.
The combination of script and wrapper allows for very fast updates.
Inestic (Dmitry Demin) finished SophiApp v1.0 and it was a great success. It is his dream is to be a programmer after working long years as an IT admin.
It is not updated no more as v2.0 is the priority. v2.0 is the goal and is a new learning project for him. SophiApp v2.0 is quite a large undertaking trying to be modern.
Reflection:
I sought out people who were passionate in debloating.
I was a beginner programmer and they included me.
I grew with them. I realized I wasn’t really technical and savvy and passionate like them in “tech, tech”.
I respected them and their passion in tech.
Learning from people who are from a developed country like Ukraine and Russia was eye-opening. I lived ‘whatever’ in Canada and thought negative about myself and thought negative like most people living in the West. Like ‘blah’ the Western way where everyday is the same. Just learn, grow and have a family and repeat.
Growth:
People from other countries across the world can think different and have motives that are different and interesting.
I was new to programming and grew with them over 5 years. I was older than farag2 and younger than Inestic. This range complemented everyone. Each had their own experiences and strengths.
Working with people from other countries can provide opportunity and develop products that are good and different. Provide a different solution.
Continue to work worldwide to provide alternatives for things.