Initial cut - untested.

server/CheckEnvironment.js

@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@ if(!process.env.MONGO_URL2) {
 }
 
 try {
-    let settings = Assets.getText('settings.json');
+    let settings = await Assets.getTextAsync('settings.json');
 }
 catch(e) {
+    console.log(e)
     console.error("Must have a /private/settings.json file with the following format:");
     console.error(`
 {