initialize settings in an init file before app accepts requests

models/setting.js

@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@ const SettingSchema = new Schema({
   }
 });
 
+/**
+ * this is run once when the app starts to ensure settings are populated
+ * @return {Promise} null initialize the global settings object
+ */
+SettingSchema.statics.init = function (defaults) {
+  return this.update({id: '1'}, {$setOnInsert: defaults}, {upsert: true});
+};
+
 /**
  * gets the entire settings record and sends it back
  * @return {Promise} settings the whole settings record