Is the Win SDK needed to make apps that call WDK user-mode funcs?

[Joseph C]

I am trying to put together a usermode app that can talk to non-mouse/kb HID
devices -- I would like to use the WDK usuermode HID* funcs.

I am having a problem getting anything to compile, however - I am getting
tripped up just getting my header includes to work.

I think I have a fundamental gap in my understanding of how the WDK relates
to tools for user-mode programming (VS), and whether the Windows SDK is
required (or not) to be able to develop my app.

I guess what I'm asking for is to know, explicitly, whether I can develop a
program in VS C++ and not have to worry about the driver build environment
(because I am, in theory, only accessing user-mode API's); and whether I
definitely need or definitely not need to have Win SDK installed.

Thanks.