WinAPI or SDL?

[MottMan]

Wanting to create GUI applications and games I've been thinking about my options to do so. I know SDL is a complete and easy package, but with the right practice and other frameworks, libraries, ect attached to WinAPI there is a lot more flexibility. What do you think I should tackle first? If WinAPI, what else should I know/prepare for when creating something requiring lots of multimedia such as a game? Whatever you think would be necessary for me to know I would really appreciate.

Thanks in advance.

[Albatross]

I vote for neither. I vote for SFML.

http://sfml-dev.org/

If you cannot for whatever reason use SFML, then SDL.

-Albatross

[MottMan]

I did try setting up SFML (several times) to finally consult another forum where I was told that it was a common issue with no fix available yet.