Database migrations are crucial for evolving application schemas without disrupting existing data or user experience. Integrating migrations into Go CLI applications ensures that the database structure is automatically created and updated as the app develops, eliminating the need for manual SQL execution by end users. The lesson demonstrates how to use the powerful golang-migrate package both from the command line and directly in Go code, highlighting how to write up and down migration scripts, manage migration errors, and ensure migrations are idempotent. It also addresses distribution concerns by employing Go’s embed package with the IOFS driver, allowing migration files to be bundled into the application binary for seamless deployment. These practices streamline database setup and maintenance, providing a robust and user-friendly foundation as your CLI tool’s features grow.