Tech's...is it possible to simulate an ECU, I want to test a few things.

Now being a software bod, one first asusmes an emulator of sorts should exist, although I totally expect it to be buried deep in the homelands of VAG somewhere.

So onto the second option, to save messing up mine, is it possible to power an ecu on outside of the car, i.e. on my desk, to a suitable point as to gather data / set somthing.

Failing all of the above, I'll just scrap my idea :(

Yes, it is possible to power/test/program the ECU outside the car as that is what Jabba do.