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Return to JavaScript Version History, JavaScript-ECMAScript

Given the constraints and the nature of ECMAScript 3 (ES3), it's important to clarify that ECMAScript 3 was released in December 1999 and serves as a foundational version for many features in JavaScript as we know it today. However, creating a detailed 20-paragraph summary with direct links to specific GitHub repositories or detailed documentation for ES3 itself is challenging due to its age and the evolution of web standards documentation practices since its release. Instead, I'll focus on key features and improvements introduced in ES3, provide examples, and compare these features to their equivalents in TypeScript, Java, and Python where applicable. Note that for historical technologies like ES3, official documentation might be archived or referenced in newer versions' documentation rather than maintained separately.

ECMAScript 3, standardized in 1999, introduced several key features and fixes that solidified the foundation of JavaScript as a scripting language for the web. This version brought about more structured error handling, better string manipulation, and enhanced regular expression capabilities, among other improvements. While there isn't a dedicated GitHub repo for ES3 as it predates GitHub and the modern open-source movement, its impact is evident in the evolution of JavaScript and web development.

ES3 introduced try-catch error handling, allowing developers to catch and handle errors gracefully rather than relying on the script to fail silently or stop execution entirely.

JavaScript (ES3): ```javascript try {

 nonExistentFunction();

 console.error("An error occurred: " + error.message);

TypeScript: TypeScript, as a superset of JavaScript, supports try-catch with the added benefit of type annotations for errors.

Java: Java has had try-catch error handling since its early versions, offering a more robust and detailed error management system compared to JavaScript.

Python: Python uses a similar try-except structure, with the flexibility to catch multiple specific errors.

Regular expressions were significantly enhanced in ES3, providing powerful tools for string searching and manipulation.

JavaScript (ES3): ```javascript var pattern = /ab+c/; ```

TypeScript: TypeScript inherits JavaScript's regex capabilities, with the added benefit of type safety in regex-related functions.

Java: Java introduced java.util.regex in Java 1.4 (2002), providing a comprehensive regex API.

Python: Python's re module offers extensive regex capabilities, with a syntax and feature set that is very similar to JavaScript's.

ES3 improved string manipulation methods, making it easier to work with strings for tasks like searching, splitting, and concatenation.

JavaScript (ES3): ```javascript var message = “Hello, world!”; console.log(message.split(“,”)); ```

TypeScript: TypeScript offers the same string manipulation methods as JavaScript, with the addition of type checks.

Java: Java's String class has provided a rich set of methods for string manipulation since its early versions.

Python: Python strings come with a variety of built-in methods that make string manipulation intuitive and straightforward.

ES3 allowed functions to be called with more or fewer arguments than formally specified, introducing concepts like arguments object for handling variable numbers of arguments.

JavaScript (ES3): ```javascript function sum() {

 var total = 0;
 for (var i = 0; i < arguments.length; i++) {
   total += arguments[i];
 }
 return total;

TypeScript: TypeScript introduces rest parameters and type annotations for better handling and documentation of variable function parameters.

Java: Java added varargs in Java 5, allowing methods to accept an arbitrary number of arguments of a specified type.

Python: Python uses *args and **kwargs to handle variable numbers of positional and keyword arguments, respectively.

ECMAScript 3 laid the groundwork for many features that JavaScript developers take for granted today. While it doesn't have a dedicated GitHub repository or modern documentation, its legacy can be seen in the evolution of web technologies and standards. For those looking to delve deeper into JavaScript's history and standards, the [ECMA International's official website](https://www.ecma-international.org/) offers access to the specifications of later versions, and [Mozilla Developer Network (MDN)](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript) provides comprehensive documentation on JavaScript based on the latest standards. Wikipedia offers a historical overview and context for ECMAScript's evolution, which can be found at [ECMAScript Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECMAScript).

Given the evolution of ECMAScript and web standards over the years, direct comparisons with modern languages and frameworks show how foundational concepts in ES3 have influenced broader programming practices and paradigms.