quick explanation of genclass(1)?

["Jeremy C. Reed" <reed at reedmedia dot net>]

I am writing an article about esoteric commands and I am trying to figure
out what genclass(1) is. I have read various man pages, as well as scanned
throught some GNU libg++ documentation, but I do not know C++.

I understand that it does simple text substitution, but I don't know why
-- probably because I don't understand plex arrays, libg++ classes, typed 
classes or vector classes.

From what I have read it appears to be in the process of being phased out.

Can anyone briefly explain, with a sentence or two, in easy-to-understand,
laymen-terms, what genclass can be used for? Does it have any current
purpose or value?

(Or if you know of any genclass documentatiopn, please point me to it.)

Thanks,

   Jeremy C. Reed
   http://www.reedmedia.net/