diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index 9189c0727..ca5e02a16 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ class DebugConfig(FlaskConfig, MailConfig, LocalStorage, SQLiteDB,
     'format': LOG_FORMAT
   }
   SEND_FILE_MAX_AGE_DEFAULT = 0
+  POPULATE_DB_TEST_DATA = True
 
 
 class LocalHostedConfig(FlaskConfig, MailConfig, S3Storage, RDSMySQL,
diff --git a/initdb.py b/initdb.py
index a35737ffb..84f30f6a2 100644
--- a/initdb.py
+++ b/initdb.py
@@ -1,4 +1,91 @@
+import logging
+import string
+
+from random import SystemRandom
+from datetime import datetime
+
 from data.database import initialize_db
+from data import model
+from app import app
+
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+logging.basicConfig(**app.config['LOGGING_CONFIG'])
+
+
+def __gen_hex_id(length=64):
+  random = SystemRandom()
+  return ''.join([random.choice('abcdef' + string.digits)
+                  for x in range(length)])
+
+
+def __gen_checksum():
+  return 'tarsum+sha256:' + __gen_hex_id(64)
+
+
+def create_subtree(repo, structure, parent):
+  num_nodes, subtrees, last_node_tag = structure
+
+  # create the nodes
+  for i in range(num_nodes):
+    docker_image_id = __gen_hex_id()
+    checksum = __gen_checksum()
+
+    new_image = model.create_image(docker_image_id, repo)
+    model.set_image_checksum(docker_image_id, repo, checksum)
+
+    new_image = model.set_image_metadata(docker_image_id, repo.namespace,
+                                         repo.name, str(datetime.now()),
+                                         'no comment', parent)
+
+    parent = new_image
+
+  if last_node_tag:
+    model.create_or_update_tag(repo.namespace, repo.name, last_node_tag,
+                               new_image.docker_image_id)
+
+  for subtree in subtrees:
+    create_subtree(repo, subtree, new_image)
+
+
+def __generate_repository(user, name, is_public, permissions, structure):
+  repo = model.create_repository(user.username, name, user)
+
+  if is_public:
+    model.set_repository_visibility(repo, 'public')
+
+  for delegate, role in permissions:
+    model.set_user_repo_permission(delegate.username, user.username, name,
+                                   role)
+
+  create_subtree(repo, structure, None)
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   initialize_db()
+
+  if app.config.get('POPULATE_DB_TEST_DATA', False):
+    logger.debug('Populating the DB with test data.')
+
+    new_user_1 = model.create_user('devtable', 'password',
+                                   'jake@devtable.com')
+    new_user_1.verified = True
+    new_user_1.save()
+
+    new_user_2 = model.create_user('public', 'password',
+                                   'jacob.moshenko@gmail.com')
+    new_user_2.verified = True
+    new_user_2.save()
+
+    __generate_repository(new_user_1, 'simple', False, [], (4, [], 'latest'))
+
+    __generate_repository(new_user_1, 'complex', False, [],
+                          (2, [(3, [], 'v2.0'),
+                               (1, [(1, [(1, [], 'latest')], 'staging'),
+                                    (1, [], None)], None)], None))
+
+    __generate_repository(new_user_2, 'publicrepo', True, [],
+                          (10, [], 'latest'))
+
+    __generate_repository(new_user_1, 'shared', False,
+                          [(new_user_2, 'write')], (5, [], 'latest'))
diff --git a/test.db b/test.db
index 25c547a62..58d66eb39 100644
Binary files a/test.db and b/test.db differ