Counting in the background while running other code

Using Arduino Programming Questions
1

I would like to have something save to the EEPROM every 1 minute while running a bunch of other code. Is it best to just have a variable count up in the Arduino or should I get an external counter?

2

See the "blink without delay" example that comes with the Arduino IDE for how to time events.

3

Using millis() for timing. A beginners guide

and

Several things at the same time have further examples of using millis() for timing and explain how to do it,

4

save to the EEPROM every 1 minute

Not a great idea... the EEPROM has a finite number of write cycles before it fall over.
Sure it will take a while (?approx 34 days?), but there are better ways to save your live variables.

e.g.

  • Only when they change (if less often than 60-sec)
  • Only on brownout/power loss (with a decent capacitor on the Vcc input)
  • As determined by your program logic
    etc.
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lastchancename:
Not a great idea... the EEPROM has a finite number of write cycles before it fall over.
Sure it will take a while (?approx 34 days?), but there are better ways to save your live variables.

once a minute?

There are EEPROM wear leveling techniques that could make that more like a hundred years.

If you are making a counter that needs to survive power cycles and/or resets, EEPROM will do the job.

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