diff --git a/src/gbatchkit/types.py b/src/gbatchkit/types.py
index e478722..d12e45f 100644
--- a/src/gbatchkit/types.py
+++ b/src/gbatchkit/types.py
@@ -24,6 +24,62 @@ class ComputeConfig(BaseModel):
     )
 
 
+# Parse strings in the format:
+# machine_type:provisioning_model+accelerator_type:accelerator_count
+# where the provisioning model and accelerator are optional.
+#
+# Defaults:
+#   - provisioning_model: SPOT
+#   - accelerator_type: none
+#   - accelerator_count: 0 (or 1, if accelerator_type is given)
+def parse_compute_config(compute_str: str) -> ComputeConfig:
+    compute_parts = compute_str.split("+")
+
+    if len(compute_parts) == 1:
+        compute_parts = [compute_parts[0], ""]
+    elif len(compute_parts) > 2:
+        raise ValueError("Invalid compute config format")
+
+    if compute_parts[0] == "":
+        raise ValueError("Machine type is required")
+
+    machine_parts = compute_parts[0].split(":")
+    if len(machine_parts) == 1:
+        machine_type = machine_parts[0]
+        provisioning_model = "SPOT"
+    elif len(machine_parts) == 2:
+        machine_type, provisioning_model = machine_parts
+    else:
+        raise ValueError(f"Invalid machine type/provisioning model: {machine_parts}")
+
+    accelerator_parts = compute_parts[1].split(":")
+    if len(accelerator_parts) == 1:
+        accelerator_type = accelerator_parts[0]
+        if accelerator_type:
+            accelerator_count = 1
+        else:
+            accelerator_count = 0
+    elif len(accelerator_parts) == 2:
+        accelerator_type = accelerator_parts[0]
+        accelerator_count = int(accelerator_parts[1] or 0)
+
+        if accelerator_count > 0 and not accelerator_type:
+            raise ValueError(f"Accelerator count specified without accelerator type")
+    else:
+        raise ValueError(f"Invalid accelerator type/count: {accelerator_parts}")
+
+    # TODO: validate that machine_type is valid
+    # TODO: validate that accelerator_type is valid
+    # TODO: validate that machine_type + accelerator_type are valid together
+
+    return ComputeConfig(
+        machine_type=machine_type,
+        provisioning_model=provisioning_model or "SPOT",
+        accelerator_type=accelerator_type or "",
+        accelerator_count=int(accelerator_count or 0),
+    )
+
+
 class NetworkInterfaceConfig(BaseModel):
     network: str = Field(
         default="",
diff --git a/tests/gbatchkit/types_test.py b/tests/gbatchkit/types_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..308ae13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/gbatchkit/types_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import pytest
+
+from gbatchkit.types import parse_compute_config
+
+
+def test_parse_compute_config():
+    # Test with all parts specified
+    config = parse_compute_config("n1-standard-8:SPOT+nvidia-tesla-t4:1")
+    assert config.machine_type == "n1-standard-8"
+    assert config.provisioning_model == "SPOT"
+    assert config.accelerator_type == "nvidia-tesla-t4"
+    assert config.accelerator_count == 1
+
+    config = parse_compute_config("n1-standard-8:SPOT+nvidia-tesla-t4")
+    assert config.accelerator_type == "nvidia-tesla-t4"
+    assert config.accelerator_count == 1
+
+    # Test with only machine type and provisioning model
+    config = parse_compute_config("n1-standard-8:SPOT")
+    assert config.machine_type == "n1-standard-8"
+    assert config.provisioning_model == "SPOT"
+    assert config.accelerator_type == ""
+    assert config.accelerator_count == 0
+
+    # Test with only machine type
+    config = parse_compute_config("n1-standard-8")
+    assert config.machine_type == "n1-standard-8"
+    assert config.provisioning_model == "SPOT"
+    assert config.accelerator_type == ""
+    assert config.accelerator_count == 0
+
+    # Test with empty string
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        parse_compute_config("")
+
+    # Test with invalid format
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        parse_compute_config("invalid+format+string")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        parse_compute_config("invalid:format:string")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        parse_compute_config("n1-standard-4:SPOT+gpu:1:1")