Minimal example of particles in love

minimal-particles.lua

function love.load()
  local particleImage = love.graphics.newImage('particle.jpg')
  
  particles = love.graphics.newParticleSystem(particleImage, 300)
  particles:setPosition(love.graphics.getWidth() / 2, love.graphics.getHeight() / 2)
  particles:setSpeed(10, 50)
  particles:setColor(255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 0)
  particles:setParticleLife(1, 3)
  particles:start()

end

function love.update(dt)
  particles:update(dt)
end

function love.draw()
  love.graphics.draw(particles)
end