PHP Largest String
function largestString(string $s): string
{
    $len = strlen($s);
    $cur = '';

    for ($i = $len - 1; $i >= 0; $i--) {
        $cur = $s[$i] . $cur;

        if (strlen($cur) === 3) {
            if ($cur === 'abb') {
                $s[$i]     = 'b';
                $s[$i + 1] = 'a';
                $s[$i + 2] = 'a';
                if (isset($s[$i + 4]) && $s[$i + 4] === 'b') {
                    $i += 4 + 1;
                } elseif (isset($s[$i + 3]) && $s[$i + 3] === 'b') {
                    $i += 3 + 1;
                } elseif ($s[$i + 2] === 'b') {
                    $i += 2 + 1;
                }
            }
            if ($s[$i + 1] === 'b') {
                $i += 1 + 1;
            } else {
                ++$i;
            }
            $cur = '';
        }
    }

    return $s;
}

This builds the biggest valid string it can under the challenge rules by always choosing the best next character it is allowed to use.