diff --git a/.eslintrc.json b/.eslintrc.json
index f92aa27b1..eec982dac 100644
--- a/.eslintrc.json
+++ b/.eslintrc.json
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
         "yoda": [1],
         "no-path-concat": [2],
         "no-process-exit": [2],
-        "camelcase": [1],
         "eol-last": [1],
         "no-continue": [1],
         "no-nested-ternary": [1],
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..079766d25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+### Expected behavior
+
+### Actual behavior
+
+### Steps to reproduce behavior
diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c5ec0d6bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+## What does this PR do?
+
+## How do I test this PR?
+
+- click a button
+- view the cat
+- see the cat meow
+
+@coralproject/tech
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b0359459e..d52442b57 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ npm-debug.log
 dist
 .DS_Store
 *.iml
+.env
diff --git a/bin/init.js b/bin/init.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d114d4819
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/init.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+const Setting = require('../models/setting');
+const defaults = {id: '1', moderation: 'pre'};
+
+Setting.update({id: '1'}, {$setOnInsert: defaults}, {upsert: true}).then(() => {
+  console.log('created settings object.');
+  process.exit();
+}).catch(console.error);
diff --git a/models/SETTINGS_ROADMAP.md b/models/SETTINGS_ROADMAP.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b49a0f8a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/models/SETTINGS_ROADMAP.md
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+These are some settings we're planning on implementing in the future.
+I'm keeping them in this file for reference
+
+```javascript
+anonymous_users: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+block_mute_enabled: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+comment_count: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+comment_editing_enabled: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+comments_hidden: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+community_guidelines: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+detailed_flags: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+emojis_enabled: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+following: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+likes_enabled: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+mentions: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+nested_replies: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+notification_timeout: {type: Number, default: 4500},
+permalinks: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+post_button_text: {type: String, default: 'Post'},
+pseudonyms: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+public_profile: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+reactions_enabled: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+reply_button_text: {type: String, default: 'Reply'},
+rich_content: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+show_staff_picks: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+up_down_voting: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+user_badges: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+user_mods_enabled: {type: Boolean, default: false},
+user_stats_enabled: {type: Boolean, default: false}
+```
diff --git a/models/setting.js b/models/setting.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dd82b3e42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/models/setting.js
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+const mongoose = require('../mongoose');
+const Schema = mongoose.Schema;
+
+const SettingSchema = new Schema({
+  id: {type: String, default: '1'},
+  moderation: {type: String, enum: ['pre', 'post'], default: 'pre'}
+}, {
+  _id: false,
+  timestamps: {
+    createdAt: 'created_at',
+    updatedAt: 'updated_at'
+  }
+});
+
+SettingSchema.statics.getSettings = function () {
+  return this.findOne();
+};
+
+SettingSchema.statics.updateSettings = function (setting) {
+  // there should only ever be one record unless something has gone wrong.
+  return this.findOneAndUpdate({id: '1'}, {$set: setting}, {new: true});
+};
+
+const Setting = mongoose.model('Setting', SettingSchema);
+
+module.exports = Setting;
diff --git a/mongoose.js b/mongoose.js
index 96e0e5ccc..0aff4c22c 100644
--- a/mongoose.js
+++ b/mongoose.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const mongoose = require('mongoose');
 const enabled = require('debug').enabled;
+const url = process.env.TALK_MONGO_URL || 'mongodb://localhost';
 
 // Use native promises
 mongoose.Promise = global.Promise;
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ if (enabled('talk:db')) {
 }
 
 try {
-  mongoose.connect(process.env.TALK_MONGO_URL, (err) => {
+  mongoose.connect(url, (err) => {
     if (err) throw err;
     console.log('Connected to MongoDB!');
   });
diff --git a/routes/api/index.js b/routes/api/index.js
index dab6fdef9..12f456a60 100644
--- a/routes/api/index.js
+++ b/routes/api/index.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const express = require('express');
 const router = express.Router();
 
 router.use('/comments', require('./comments'));
+router.use('/settings', require('./settings'));
 router.use('/queue', require('./queue'));
 
 module.exports = router;
diff --git a/routes/api/settings/index.js b/routes/api/settings/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fa5d3a620
--- /dev/null
+++ b/routes/api/settings/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+const express = require('express');
+const router = express.Router();
+const Setting = require('../../../models/setting');
+
+router.get('/', (req, res, next) => {
+  Setting.getSettings().then(res.json).catch(next);
+});
+
+router.put('/', (req, res, next) => {
+  Setting.updateSettings(req.body).then(res.json).catch(next);
+});
+
+module.exports = router;