The civil aero-engine inlet anti-icing system provide the guarantee to the engine operation safe in the icing condition. The Civil Aviation Administration of China published the regulation to the civil aeroengine operation in the icing condition. However, there is less relevant research work about anti-icing system design. In this paper, the research progress for inlet piccolo anti-icing system in recent years is introduces. The design requirement, design methods, optimization methods and test verification methods are described which provide a reference to the design of the civil aero-engine inlet piccolo anti-icing system.