function generateQuads(atlas, tilewidth, tileheight) --[[ atlas is like a spritesheet. a path to the texture]]

    local sheetWidth = atlas:getWidth()/tilewidth
    local sheetHeight = atlas:getHeight()/tileheight -- we can't use local variables outside the file

    local sheetCounter = 1
    local quads = {}


    for y = 0, sheetHeight - 1 do
        for x = 0, sheetWidth - 1 do
            quads[sheetCounter] = love.graphics.newQuad(x * tilewidth, y * tileheight, tilewidth, tileheight, atlas:getDimensions()) -- arrays are 1 indexed
            sheetCounter = sheetCounter + 1  -- increment the quad in the sheet
        end
    end
    return quads
end