State the methods that programmers can use to improve the maintainability of their programs and justify each method.

Code Commenting: This involves adding descriptive lines to the code to explain what certain parts of the code are doing. This is important because it helps other programmers understand the code better, making it easier for them to make changes or fix bugs.

Code Formatting: This involves following a consistent style of writing code, such as consistent indentation, use of white spaces, and naming conventions. This makes the code easier to read and understand, which in turn makes it easier to maintain.

Modular Programming: This involves breaking down the program into smaller, manageable modules or functions. Each module performs a specific task and can be tested independently. This makes the code easier to understand, test, and maintain.

Use of Version Control Systems: Version control systems like Git help keep track of changes made to the code over time. This makes it easier to identify when and where bugs were introduced, making it easier to fix them.

Regular Refactoring: This involves regularly reviewing and improving the code to remove redundancies, improve efficiency, and keep the code clean and manageable. This makes the code easier to understand and maintain.

Use of Automated Testing: Automated tests help ensure that the code is working as expected and makes it easier to identify and fix bugs. This improves the maintainability of the code by making it easier to ensure that changes or fixes do not introduce new bugs.

Documentation: Apart from commenting within the code, it's also important to have external documentation that provides an overview of the program, its architecture, and how to use it. This makes it easier for new programmers to understand the program and contribute to its maintenance.