What purpose does this export block have? Java, lisp and octave code is
generated uner /msg - is the intention to move the cpp code under /msg
at some point, and this is designed to allow that?


It's just the opposite actually, they used to get generated into the msg directory and require that export block, but in cturtle they generate into msg_gen and the export block is no longer necessary.

I updated the tutorial to mention this.

Josh.