db now saves every minute. Will make it configurable in future.

bot.lua

@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ bot_init = function() -- The function run when the bot is started or reloaded.
 
 	last_update = last_update or 0 -- Set loop variables: Update offset,
 	last_cron = last_cron or os.time() -- the time of the last cron job,
+	last_db_save = os.date('%M', os.time())
 	is_started = true -- and whether or not the bot should be running.
 	database.usernames = database.usernames or {} -- Table to cache usernames by user ID.
 
@@ -102,6 +103,7 @@ while is_started do -- Start a loop while the bot should be running.
 	end
 
 	if last_cron < os.time() - 5 then -- Run cron jobs if the time has come.
+		last_cron = os.time() -- Update the timer variable.
 		for i,v in ipairs(plugins) do
 			if v.cron then -- Call each plugin's cron function, if it has one.
 				local res, err = pcall(function() v.cron() end)
@@ -110,8 +112,11 @@ while is_started do -- Start a loop while the bot should be running.
 				end
 			end
 		end
-		save_data('otouto.db', database) -- Save the database.
+		-- Save the database.
-		last_cron = os.time() -- And finally, update the variable.
+		if last_db_save ~= os.date('%M', os.time()) then
+			last_db_save = os.date('%M', os.time())
+			save_data('otouto.db', database)
+		end
 	end
 
 end

plugins/control.lua

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ local action = function(msg)
 		return
 	end
 
-	if msg.date < os.time() - 1 then return end
+	if msg.date < os.time() then return end
 
 	if msg.text:match('^/reload') then
 		bot_init()