```ruby
# Load the Rails application.
require File.expand_path('../application', __FILE__)
require File.expand_path('../settings', __FILE__)

# Set ENV vars to defaults in application.yml
StarterKit::Settings.env.each do |k, v|
  ENV[k] ||= v
end

# Initialize the Rails application.
Rails.application.initialize!
```

Improve handling of application.yml and env vars
user
```ruby
# Load the Rails application.
require File.expand_path('../application', __FILE__)
require File.expand_path('../settings', __FILE__)

# Set ENV vars to defaults in application.yml
StarterKit::Settings.env.each do |k, v|
  ENV[k] ||= (v.blank? ? '' : v.to_s)
end

# Initialize the Rails application.
Rails.application.initialize!
```
assistant