Building a Go application binary builder involves utilizing the `GoToolDistList` command with the JSON flag to enumerate the distributions supported by Go, categorized by operating system and architecture. The lesson emphasizes two crucial properties of these distributions: "first class" support—a designation for distributions (like Windows, Linux, and Darwin) that the Go team actively maintains and documents—and "cgo" support, which relates to the ability to interface with C code. While using cgo can enhance performance, the lesson points out potential drawbacks, especially when distributing binaries, as they may depend on dynamic C libraries not present on all systems. As a solution, the importance of building static binaries and toggling cgo support is discussed, providing developers with the necessary tools to ensure their applications are compatible across diverse environments. This foundational knowledge sets the stage for developing more complex applications using Go, particularly in the next module focusing on a content management system tool.