1.5.4 vs 1.5.5

Got a security-patched 1.3.8a site with some mods - both standard and custom. I was about to begin an upgrade to 1.5.4, and suddenly 1.5.5 is ready. Given that 1.5.5 is not PA DSS yet, and still has a way to go with some add-ons/plugins, would you recommend upgrading to 1.5.4 now, 1.5.5 now, or wait until 1.5.5 has been out for a while and PA DSS Approved?

Unless you have very specific plugins that you yourself need, then go ahead with v1.5.5 now.

Especially since you'll be staging it in a separate place until you've tested the new version, before going live with it ... right?
http://www.zen-cart.com/entry.php?3-How-do-I-rebuild-my-site-on-the-new-version-instead-of-upgrading
That'll give you time to allow plugins to get upgraded while you're working on the upgrade in your staging area.

DrByte:

Unless you have very specific plugins that you yourself need, then go ahead with v1.5.5 now.

Especially since you'll be staging it in a separate place until you've tested the new version, before going live with it ... right?
http://www.zen-cart.com/entry.php?3-How-do-I-rebuild-my-site-on-the-new-version-instead-of-upgrading
That'll give you time to allow plugins to get upgraded while you're working on the upgrade in your staging area.

Thanks for the sage advice. I was thinking the same thing. It will be several months before I want to roll the new site out, and I like the Responsive Design features, etc. And it will save me one step. I have relatively few standard plugins and some custom mods, which I have established primarily for software licensing, so it makes sense to go to 1.5.5.

Would you recommend using PHP 7.0 or 5.6?

5.6 would allow the greatest current compatibility; however, 7.0 would help to ensure that needed plugins receive the appropriate attention for compatibility and at the same time would offer the highest PHP security available.

I'm using PHP 7 for everything I possibly can.