Note to self: This solution isn't that good tbh because it is relying too much on the fact that the puzzle input will be no more than 8 characters. If the goal was to write the program as quickly as possible, like say in a programming contest setting, then I suppose it's a good approach. But if the goal is to practice programming, this is not a good way to write it in the "real world", therefore it's not a good practice and I should redo it.

I copied my teammate @NethajiMani. Credit goes to him.