$in_string = "supercalifragic"

$str_length = length($in_string);

$stop_loop_num = $str_length - 2;

$temp_counter = 0;

while ( $temp_counter < $stop_loop_num ) {
    $three_chars = substr($in_string);
    push @str_elements, $three_chars;
    $temp_counter++;
}