code: def load_global_settings():
      
      with open(settings_path, 'r') as settings_f:
          global global_settings
          settings_json = json.loads(settings_f.read())
          if global_settings is None:
              global_settings = settings_json
              global_settings[u'package_path'] = package_dir
          else:
              for k, v in settings_json.items():
                  if type(v) == dict:
                      global_settings[k].update(v)
                  else:
                      global_settings[k] = v
docs: Loads settings file containing paths to dependencies and other optional configuration elements.