@end example
@item --debug
-Start with the debugging evaluator and enable backtraces. Using the
-debugging evaluator will give you better error messages but it will
-slow down execution. By default, the debugging evaluator is only used
-when entering an interactive session. When executing a script with
-@code{-s} or @code{-c}, the normal, faster evaluator is used by default.
+Start with the debugging virtual machine engine. Using the debugging VM
+will enable support for VM hooks, which are needed for tracing,
+breakpoints, and accurate call counts when profiling. The debugging VM
+is slower than the regular VM, though, by about 10 percent. @xref{VM
+Hooks}, for more information.
+
+By default, the debugging VM engine is only used when entering an
+interactive session. When executing a script with @code{-s} or
+@code{-c}, the normal, faster VM is used by default.
@vnew{1.8}
@item --no-debug
-Do not use the debugging evaluator, even when entering an interactive
+Do not use the debugging VM engine, even when entering an interactive
session.
@item -h@r{, }--help