code: function alias(path, aliases)
  {
  	// if it's a path to a file - don't interfere
  	if (!is_package_path(path))
  	{
  		return
  	}
  
  	// extract module name from the path
  	const slash_index = path.indexOf('/')
  	const module_name = slash_index >= 0 ? path.substring(0, slash_index) : path
  	const rest = slash_index >= 0 ? path.substring(slash_index) : ''
  
  	// find an alias
  	const alias = aliases[module_name]
  
  	// if an alias is found, require() the correct path
  	if (alias)
  	{
  		return alias + rest
  	}
  }
docs: alias the path provided the aliases map