I use vscode for Golang backend dev work. I even have a subscription to Idea, but it just never took to me. I put in the work to customize Idea to basically be like Goland, and I still just kind of prefer vscode. Also use vscode for more generic things like CI scripts, Ansible, etc.

Jetbrains' approach to IDE's tends to be language-specific. So, taking IDEA (for Java) and making it work for Golang is probably not as slick as it should be.

GoLand[1] is part of the Jetbrains suite, and should be used for Golang development.

[1] https://www.jetbrains.com/go/

I edited it into my original comment, but you can install a bunch of the same extensions that are used in Goland in Idea. I was under the impression that the difference is primarily in the default extensions.

Usually it is extensions - but also keymapping, default utilities, some layout, etc. Basically they structure each specific IDE for what people working in that language would want/need the most.

So, you're kind of going against the grain by trying to make IDEA a general do-all IDE.

This is different than say, Eclipse, where everything and the kitchen sink are under one IDE. This took me a bit of getting used to, but now I kind of like that separation without fear of breaking/worsening one of my "flows" for another lang.